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the cleverness shown 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 inconveniently 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 com- 

 modious 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 directions, and 

 assuming different attitudes, in order to test the suitability of 

 the proposed arrangement ; and, finally, when fitted to its entire 

 satisfaction, it walks off, evidently pleased with its success, and 

 generously leaves the old shell for the accommodation of any future 

 house hunter less corpulent than itself. Not unfrequently two 

 hermits will meet and dispute the possession of a vacant shell. 

 Arbitration is never sought in these cases. It is simply a contest 

 between the two for mastery a trial of physical power and, where 

 the combatants are well matched, the conflict is generally of a fatal 

 character ; for the possession of a convenient house is considered of 

 such vital importance that the one or the other is determined to 

 obtain the coveted shell, and, at all times pugnacious, each is resolved 

 to die rather than yield ingloriously to its opponent. This sea-fight 

 often occurs. The slain are not a few. Sometimes a less serious 

 encounter may be witnessed, as when might exercises its too frequent 

 tyranny over right. The following incident affords a good illustra- 

 tion: Two hermits met, accidentally, it may be supposed, within 

 the vivarium on Holy Island. The one was somewhat stouter than 

 the other ; and the weaker brother, appearing at first sight to 

 possess the larger house, received an immediate summons to turn 

 out and vacate his premises. The summons was disputed, a furious 



