96 THE SOLDIER CRAB AND ITS HABITS. 



So great is the power of the animals to retain 

 hold of their shell, and so intense their dislike to be 

 forcibly ejected therefrom, that they will often allow 

 their bodies to be pulled asunder, and sacrifice their 

 life rather than submit to such indignity. This fact 

 I have proved on sundry occasions. But supposing 

 a crab to have taken a fancy to a shell, occupied by 

 some brother Pagurus, (a circumstance of frequent 

 occurrence), he quickly proceeds to dislodge the 

 latter. Curious to state, this process never seems 

 attended with any fatal result. 



When watching the operation, it has appeared to 

 me as if the crab attacked preferred to yield rather 

 than be subjected to continuous annoyance, and the 

 discomfort of keeping for so long a time buried 

 within the inner recesses of his dwelling. 



The contrast in appearance of the Hermit-Crab 

 when seated in his shell, and crawling about minus 

 such appendage, is great indeed. 



This the reader will readily perceive by examin- 

 ing the Illustrations on Plate 4, which are drawn from 

 nature, and are truthful portraitures of this singular 

 creature. 



I have already mentioned the extreme difficulty 

 there is in expelling a Lobster-Crab. This, be it 

 understood, applies only to the animal in good 

 health ; for no sooner does he feel sick than he in- 

 stantly leaves his shell, and crawls about in a most 

 pitiable plight. He sometimes becomes convalescent 



