286 



COMMON OBJECTS OF THE SHOKE. 



crab is said, when seized, to utter a faint cry. It 

 certainly takes so strong a hold of its foe, that the 

 finger thus grasped would be glad to withdraw 



itself, as the hermit will suffer itself to be killed 

 rather than relinquish the hold. 



We have several common crabs, as well as other 

 crustacean animals, hiding in the holes among the 

 rocks, some of them walking sideways over the 

 sand, and if touched, making most rapid efforts to 

 hide themselves behind a sheltering stone, or under 

 the friendly leaf of a large sea- weed. One of the 

 most frequent kinds, the common shore-crab 

 (Carcinus mcenas), really well deserves the name of 

 le crdbe enrage, by which it is known on the French 



