2G2 MARINE ZOOLOGY OF ARRAN. 



deficiency, either in the use of its instinct, or rather, perhaps, 

 in the exercise of good sense, by which a remedy is provided 

 equal to its necessities. Its usual habit is to take possession 

 of the empty shell of a dead shell-fish one of the univalves, 

 such as the common whelk and, introducing the whole of 

 its soft parts into this cherished prize, it hooks its tail round 

 the innermost whorl of the shell, and keeping both eyes and 

 claws ready for action, it bids a hearty defiance to every 

 opponent. You may seize the exposed claws and tear the 

 hermit into pieces; but, so apprehensive are they of danger, 

 and so tenaciously do they cling to their support, you will 

 seldom either persuade or force the creatures to come out of 

 their abodes. It is equally curious to observe the cleverness 

 shewn when required to meet another difficulty. A young 

 hermit occupies a small house. This is a necessary con- 

 clusion, inasmuch as the shell has to be dragged about by 

 its occupant. But juvenile hermit crabs, like other young 

 creatures, increase in size, and, as they grow, they find that 

 the abodes selected in their youth have become incon- 

 veniently small; for, of course, the dead shells cannot be 

 enlarged for their accommodation. This embarrassment is 

 easily obviated. It is merely a matter of change of residence. 

 You will see the hermit if you watch on the sea shore, and 

 happen to be in the right place at the right time bring 

 himself into close proximity to a shell, empty, and larger 

 than the one then in his possession. His next step is to 

 take an accurate survey on all sides, to see that the coast is 

 clear, and to make sure that he can move from one house to 

 the other without the risk of a disadvantageous encounter 

 with an enemy. It is the work of a moment, provided that 

 the new house proves to be more commodious than the old 

 one; but it sometimes happens that the crab is mistaken in 

 his calculation, and, in this case, it is most amusing to watch 

 our friend running about, half naked, and half frightened, 

 among a group of deserted shells, poking its tail first into 

 one and then into another, twisting itself in various direc- 



