THE ISLE OF BIRDS. 213 



taken out of the coral, and exclaimed : " This is 

 an old stager ! He has a regular forest on his 

 back." 



The crab was, indeed, well covered ; sprigs 

 of purple and red sea-weed growing from its 

 back, while its claws were bedecked with a soft 

 sponge, several barnacles, not to speak of tube- 

 making worms that had taken possession of 

 other portions. 



" He is one of the decorators," explained the 

 doctor; "pass him over, and I will show you 

 how they ornament themselves." 



Harry passed the crab to him, and taking a 

 finger-brush, which they used to clean shells, he 

 began a vigorous rubbing on its back, evidently 

 much to the creature's astonishment, and soon 

 had it clean and free from the various growths. 



" Now, give me some little pieces of sea- 

 weed," he said, dipping the sea-spider into a 

 glass of water. These were soon forthcoming, 

 and dropped in the glass with the crab. 



" Now," continued the doctor, " these crabs 

 are instinctively aware that the rays and nurses, 

 and many other fishes, have a weakness for 



