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instead of letting idleness lead them into numberless 

 evil habits ! It is for this reason that I always like 

 to see the study of natural history encouraged in 

 children. 



At the beginning of August I frequently find the 

 crabs (which frequent the rocks left exposed at low 

 water) either just about to change their shell, or 

 just after having changed it. Nothing can be more 

 curious than the manner in which they contrive to 

 draw their legs and claws out of their last year's 

 covering, casting their entire shell perfectly whole 

 and unbroken. A tough skin seems to form over 

 the flesh, under the shell, and of the same colour, 

 which apparently hardens rapidly by exposure (when 

 it is uncovered), and this skin forms the nev/ shell. 



The poor animals are quite helpless till this 

 hardens, and are at the mercy of their numerous 

 enemies. The fishermen say that whilst the female 

 crab is in this weak state the male constantly 

 attends on and protects her. I have myself often 

 seen a crab in her still unhardened shell, closely 

 accompanied by a larger crab, whose shell was per- 

 fectly hard, and who offered battle most valiantly 

 when he and his spouse were approached. 



During the herring fishing it frequently happens 

 that some strange and rarely seen monster of the 

 sea gets either entangled in the nets or is cast upon 



