Pagurus Prideauxii and Adamsia palliata. 389 



fera. Bringing it to London, I gave it a glass vase, 12 inches 

 in diameter, with 3 inches of water, and about an inch oi 

 sand, for its future home. At first the Pagurus was very shy, 

 withdrawing itself into the shell whenever I went to look at it ; 

 but it gradually became less timid, and after I had had it about 

 three weeks in the aquarium, I was pleased to find it eagerly eat 

 a small piece of meat dropped into the vase by its side. It ate 

 a second piece ; but on my giving it a third, I was agreeably 

 surprised to see it seize the piece with its large claw, and insert 

 it into the expectant mouth of the Adamsia. Being anxious to 

 verify this somewhat singular fact, I waited a few seconds, and 

 then lifting the pair out of water, found the piece of meat dis- 

 appearing down the throat of the Adamsia. About half an hour 

 after, he acted in a precisely similar manner with a fourth piece 

 of meat. The digested pieces were afterwards rejected by the 

 Adamsia. Whenever I feed him, I see him feed the Adamsia 

 as soon as he has had enough himself. 



On two occasions of my dropping meat into the vase at a time 

 when the Pagurus was not hungry, he inserted his claw within 

 the tentacles of the Adamsia, and jerked it backwards and for- 

 wards; but the tentacles not closing on the claw, he appeared 

 to decide that Adamsia was also not hungry, and rejected the 

 meat altogether. 



This attachment of the Pagurus to the Adamsia appears very 

 great, and it cannot bear to be separated from it. When it 

 changes from one shell to another, immediately on having se- 

 curely established itself in its new house, it returns to the shell 

 just vacated, and drags the Adamsia ofi" with its pointed legs, 

 holding fast the shell the while with its large fore claw. The 

 Adamsia does not resent this rough treatment from its friend 

 (though the slightest irritation from any other source will cause 

 it to pour forth in great quantity its acontia), but, detaching its 

 broad lobes, drops ofi" the shell. As soon as Adamsia is free, 

 Pagurus takes it up, and holds it firmly in his fore arms pressed 

 against the shell, till the Adamsia has re-attached its base. On 

 one occasion, Pagurus had to hold Adamsia thus in his arms for 

 upwards of an hour, xldamsia evidently disliking the new shell, 

 and being reluctant to fasten itself to it. When fastened, Adamsia 

 did not feel at home, as instead of firmly attaching the lobes to 

 the shell above Pagurus's head, they were allowed to float loosely 

 in the water. This was evidently a hint to Pagurus that the 

 shell was an unsuitable one ; and he shortly vacated that shell, 

 and returned to the old one, where Adamsia soon attached itself 

 as completely and firmly as before. On all other occasions of 

 Pagurus changing his shell, I have constantly observed that his 

 remaining or not in the new one appeared entirely to depend on 



