80 MAIA AND C. MCENAS. 



It is very curious, as well as true, that this animal 

 has in a far higher degree than other crustacean, a 

 gravity of demeanour, and a profound style of doing 

 everything, that always excites our irreverent laugh- 

 ter, but at same time leaves an impression that, if 

 justice were done, the animal ought to hold a higher 

 position in the marine world than a scavenger and 

 devourer of ocean garbage. If Maia arid C. mcenas 

 be both eating out of the same dish, in the shape of 

 an open mussel, the former seems ever inclined to 

 admonish his companion upon greediness and want 

 of manners. The only seeming reason why M . squi- 

 nado does not really give such advice, is because 

 of the impossibility of any individual speaking 

 with his mouth full. The knowledge, too, that if 

 he commenced a pantomimic discourse, it would give 

 his young friend an opportunity of gaining too large 

 a share of the banquet, may, perhaps, have some- 

 thing to do with his preferring to remain quiet. 



As for Maia's possession of appreciative musical 

 qualities, I can only state that both he and his friend 

 Hyas really do convey to the beholder an impression 

 confirmatory of this statement. I have frequently 

 been amused to observe the singular phenomenon of 

 each animal coming to the side of the vase and rock- 

 ing his body to and fro, in apparent delight at the 

 exercise of my vocal abilities, just as when a pleasing 

 melody is being played in the concert room, we bend 

 backwards and forwards, and beat time to the tune. 



