THE ISLE OP BIRDS. 215 



its shell, then removed its claw, leaving the 

 weed attached to its back as if growing there ; 



The decorator. 



then another piece was taken and the operation 

 repeated man^ times. The boys felt very much 

 like cheering the crab for its wit and cunning, 

 and before they reached home it had an assort- 

 ment of algae upon its shell. 



This proved an experiment the boys \vere 

 delighted with, and it was remarkable how well 

 concealed the crabs became by the operation 

 that is by no means confined to the crabs of the 

 Southern seas. Now wading, pushing the boat 

 through the narrow passages lined with coral, 

 and anon jumping aboard and rowing over the 

 deeper places, stopping to dive down after some 



15 



