134 OUT OF DOORS. 



There is much more to be said of these creatures, 

 but failing space will not permit of further description. 

 Should, however, any reader of these lines suffer the 

 annoyance of a wet day at the sea-side, he is hereby 

 recommended to procure a waterproof garment, to 

 betake himself to the shore as the tide is rising, and 

 amuse himself by watching the crabs. 



Since this article was printed, I have found that the 

 green crab supplies food to rats. Along the cliffs of 

 Margate great numbers of rats live, having taken up 

 their abode in the crevices, which are above the reach of 

 the waves. My attention was first called to them by 

 seeing their footprints in the thin coating of sand 

 which is to be found in such places, the sand having 

 been blown there by the wind. 



A friend and myself then set to work at these marks, 

 and soon found that great numbers of rats inhabit the 

 cliffs, and that they live almost entirely on the green 

 crabs, whose broken shells lay plentifully in the crevices. 

 After watching for some time without success, we at 

 last managed to see the rats stealing out of their homes 

 at dusk, and carrying off the crabs. It was very diffi- 

 cult to see the animals, for they are scarcely visible 

 against the sand and seaweed, and are so wary that the 

 least movement sends them scuttling off to their homes. 

 Sometimes, when the crab happened to be a large one, 

 the rat had no easy task, for the crab was quite as 

 courageous and nearly as active as its foe, springing round 



