94 P. BERNHAKDUS AND ITS HABITS. 



top of an eminence to the bottom, he may rest as- 

 sured that the original inhabitant has departed, and 

 that its place is occupied by a Lobster-Crab. 



The cause of his strange peculiarity I will briefly 

 explain. 



In the true Lobster the tail forms a most valua- 

 able appendage. In the tail the principal muscular 

 power of the animal is seated ; and by means of it, 

 boo, the animal is enabled to spring to a considerable 

 distance, and also to swim through the water at 

 will. This important organ is well protected by a 

 casing consisting of a ' series of calcareous rings, 

 forming a hard and insensible chain armour/ 



In the Lobster-Crab there is no such arrange- 

 ment. ' The abdominal segment of this singular 

 animal, instead of possessing the same crustaceous 

 covering as the rest of his body and claws, is quite 

 soft, and merely enveloped in a thin skin. To pro- 

 tect this delicate member from the attacks of his 

 voracious companions, the poor Pagurus is compelled 

 to hunt about for some Univalve, such as a Whelk 

 or Trochus, and having found this, he drops his tail 

 within the aperture and hooks it firmly to the colu- 

 mella of the shell. Why Providence has doomed the 

 poor Hermits to descend to such physical hypocrisy, 

 and clothe themselves in the left-off garments of 

 other animals, it is not easy to conjecture. No doubt, 

 besides the defence of their otherwise unprotected 

 bodies, he has some other object of importance in 



