84 THE CRAY-FISH. 



Fish wandering enters ; then the bearded guide 

 Warns the dull mate, and pricks his tender side. 

 He knows the hint, nor at the treatment grieves, 

 But hugs the advantage, and the pain forgives : 

 His closing shell the Pinna sudden joins, 

 And 'twixt the pressing sides his prey confines. 

 Thus fed by mutual aid, the friendly pair 

 Divide their gains, and all their plunder share. 1 



There is one singular feature in the Crustacea 

 which it may prove interesting to dwell a little 

 upon. I allude to their power of living apparently 

 without food, or at least without any other suste- 

 nance than is afforded by the animalculse contained 

 in the water in which they dwell. One accurate 

 observer states that he kept a Cray-fish for a 

 period of two years, during which time the only 

 food the animal received was a few worms, not 

 more than fifty altogether. This statement I have 

 often had ample means of verifying. Yet, on the 

 other hand, strange to say, the crab is always on 

 the hunt after tit-bits ; and nothing seems to give 

 him greater delight than a good morning meal, in 

 the shape of a newly opened Mussel, Cockle, and 

 above all a Pholas. Let a youthful crustacean 

 cast its shell, and rest assured, unless its companions 

 have had their appetites appeased, they will endea- 

 vour to fall upon and devour the defenceless animal. 

 This, to my chagrin and annoyance, I have known 

 to occur repeatedly. When nothing else can be 

 procured, not only the Lobster Crabs, but any 

 Brachyurous Decapods who may be at hand, will set 

 to work, and industriously pick off and eat the Acorn- 



