890 On Pagurus Prideauxii and Adamsia palliata. 



Adamsia finding it suitable or not, the latter showing its dislike 

 to the shell by not attaching the lobes above the crab's head. 

 Finding, after an hour or so, this to be the case, Pagurus in- 

 variably sought another shell. 



On one occasion I found Pagurus out of his shell, in the 

 act of searching for a new habitation; and it was curious to 

 see how little he seemed to care for the exposed position of 

 his own tail, so long as he could continue firmly to clasp the 

 Adamsia in his arms. On another occasion, Pagurus was in 

 his new shell, and had not yet succeeded in detaching Adam- 

 sia from the old one, when I was anxious to take out the 

 Adamsia in order to examine the acontia under the microscope. 

 I took up the shell to which Adamsia was still fixed; but the 

 crab could not be induced to leave hold, preferring to be lifted 

 quite out of the water to forsaking his companion. I was 

 obliged to drop them both back into the water, when Pagu- 

 rus, with the most rapid of movements, whipped his tail from 

 out the new shell and back into the one to which Adamsia 

 was still attached ; he then stood and gazed at me in the most 

 impudent and provoking manner, evidently feeling that he had 

 disappointed his enemy and saved his friend. 



He is now very sociable and not at all shy ; but the way in 

 which he constantly twiddles his antennae prevents me, I am 

 sorry to say, from obtaining a satisfactory photograph of him, 

 which I am anxious to obtain, to add to my other photographic 

 illustrations of marine natural history. 



It is difficult to imagine why the Pagurus so insists on the 

 companionship of the Adamsia. He may be luxurious enough 

 to appreciate the soft cushion which Adamsia makes for his back 

 and chest, or he may find that the white worm-like tentacles of 

 the Adamsia act as a sort of bait to small creatures, who thus 

 bring themselves incautiously within the reach of Pagurus^s 

 sharp claws. 



Anyhow, I see enough to prove that Adamsia palliata is 

 almost a necessity of existence to Pagurus Prideauxii. 



The Pagurus has changed his skin once since he has been in 

 my possession. 



I have thrown these few remarks together, as I am told by 

 those keepers of aquaria with whom I am acquainted that they 

 have never succeeded in keeping these animals alive ; and it is 

 possible that some of their peculiarities may be new to the 

 readers of the ' Annals of Natural History.' 



Oct. 18, 1863. 



