HYAS AEANEUS. 79 



are sometimes found with oysters (Ostrea edulis) at- 

 tached to their backs. Mr. W. Thompson mentions 

 two instances where this occurs, with specimens of H. 

 araneus, to be seen in Mr. Wyndman's cabinet. 

 Speaking of these, he adds, * The oyster on the large 

 crab is three inches in length, and five or six years' 

 old, and is covered with many large Balani. The 

 shell, a carapace of the crab, is but two inches and a 

 quarter in length, and hence it must, Atlas-like, have 

 born a world of weight upon its shoulders. The pre- 

 sence of the oyster affords interesting evidence that 

 the Hyas lived several years after attaining its full 

 growth. 



For days after I had brought him home, my 

 second specimen appeared as if he were dead, and it 

 was only by examining his mouth through a hand 

 lens that I could satisfy myself as to his being 

 alive. When I pushed him about with an ivory 

 stick he never resisted, but always remained still 

 upon the spot where I had urged him. 



This species of acting he has given up for some 

 time, and at the present moment I rank H. araneus 

 among my list of marine pets, for he does not appear 

 any longer to pine for mud with which to decorate 

 his person, but is quite content to ' purge and live 

 cleanly' all the rest of his days. 



The ancients imagined that Maia squinado pos- 

 sessed a great degree of wisdom, and further be 

 lieved him to be sensible to the divine charms of music. 



