92 ARISTOCRATIC HERMIT-C11ABS. 



at least, common ones revelling in almost giant-like 

 proportions, and wonderful profusion. 



The Soldier or Hermit- Crabs (to an account of 

 whom we intend to devote this chapter), offer a most 

 remarkable proof of this. Occupying the centre of a 

 rocky excavation, I have repeatedly found several dozen 

 of these comical creatures, each inhabiting the cast- 

 off shell of a defunct Whelk (Buccinum undatuml), 

 which measured not less than five or six inches in 

 length. To my surprise these aldermanic crustaceans 

 possessed no companions of a smaller growth ; while 

 at a few yards nearer shore, as many shells would be 

 found congregated together as in the more distant 

 pool, the largest, however, being no bigger than a 

 damson, while the smallest might be compared to an 

 infantile pea, or cherry-stone. 



I cannot explain this appearance otherwise, than 

 by supposing that the Anomoura become prouder, 

 or, it may be, more cunning, as they grow older, and, 

 having arrived at their full development, they fit 

 themselves with their final suit ; thereafter, in a 

 spirit of aristocratic exclusiveness, they retire to 

 fashionable subaqueous residences, distant as far as 

 possible from the homes of the canaille, who inhabit 

 the common, littoral boundaries of the shore. 



The peculiarity, to which I alluded, of the 

 Anomoura occupying shells that have formerly 

 belonged to other animals, is so strange that some 

 writers have not hesitated to express doubt upon 



