NATURE NOTES 39 



martins had built their nests of brick-coloured mud, made from the red sandstone. 

 Pretty little nurseries they were, with a half-moon shaped hole for exit and entrance. 

 Our presence caused much consternation, and clouds of martins flew backwards and 

 forwards before the entrance of the cave. Now and then a bold bird would dash in 

 past us to pay its nest a hurried visit, and then dash out again to join the other 

 alarmed parents. After a time the birds seemed to become accustomed to our 

 presence, and openly returned to their nests, when an incessant chattering ensued, 

 which suggested that the parents were entering into explanations with their little 

 ones. In the flat conglomerate rocks to the left of the cave we came across a great 

 pot-hole filled with water left by the tide. The hole was about two yards in diameter, 

 and perhaps the same in depth, with a surface fringe of fine green seaweed, while 

 lower down on the sides, bunches of coarse brown fucus had taken firm foot-hold. 

 The water was beautifully clear, and showed quite plainly the bottom lined with 

 pebbles and sea- worn pieces of rock. As our shadows fell across the pool we noticed 

 some swift movements in its depths, but on looking to see the cause, nothing living 

 was visible among the still stones. We sat ourselves down to watch developments, 

 feeling quite convinced that some living creature had been there a few moments 

 before. Presently from the shade of the fucus darted out three small gurnets about 

 four inches in length, and immediately afterwards from under the shelter of the stones 

 at the bottom some small crabs cautiously crawled out. From one of the larger 

 recesses two large claws heralded the appearance of a lobster. He came out slowly 

 and warily, and was followed by another and yet another of his kind. Soon the 

 bottom of the pool was alive and moving with crabs and lobsters. Evidently, for 

 some time past, the sea had not been high enough to reach this spot, for the rocks 

 around were bare and dry, whereas, as far up as the then high-water mark, mussels 

 formed a thick incrustation. 



"As soon as the crustaceans emerged from their hiding-places they began to feed. 

 With their claws they nipped off from the stones the scanty confervoid vegetation, 

 and conveyed it to their mouths as though they were starving." 



" They fed themselves very much like a child does, sometimes using the right claw, 

 as a hand, sometimes the left, and sometimes both claws went to the mouth at once, 

 reminding one of a greedy boy cramming his mouth with his two hands. One lobster 

 caught hold of a long branch of brown fucus with his left claw, as though to steady 

 himself, and with the right claw picked away at the seaweed and carried the portions 

 to his mouth. Soon, however, a movement in. the water washed the fucus away from 

 the left claw, and beyond the creature's reach. The lobster, as soon as he realised 



