THE HERMIT CRAB. 509 



by nature: for, taking possession of the deserted 

 shell of some other animal, it occupies that till, by 

 becoming too larse for its habitation, it is under the 

 necessity of changing it. 



It is curious enough in some countries to observe 

 this animal busily parading the sea shore, along 

 that line of pebbles and shells which is formed by 

 the farthest wave ; stilK however, dragging its old 

 incommodious habitation at its tail, unwilling to 

 part with one shell, even though a troublesome 

 appendage, till it can meet with another more con- 

 venient. It stops first at one shell, turns it, passes 

 by ; then goes to another, contemplates that for a 

 while, and, slipping its tail from the old habitation, 

 tries on the new. This also is found inconvenient, 

 and it quickly resumes the old one. In this manner 

 it frequently changes, till at length it finds one 

 light, roomy, and commodious. To this it adheres, 

 though the shell be sometimes so large as to hide 

 both the body and claws of the animal. 



But many trials and many combats are some- 

 times to be sustained by the Hermit Crab, before 

 he is thus completely equipped : for there is often 

 a contest between two of them for some favourite 

 shell, to which they are rivals. They both endea- 

 vour to take possession. They strike with their 

 claw, and bite each other, till the weakest is com- 

 pelled to yield. The victor then takes possession, 

 and in his new acquisition parades backward and 

 forward on the strand before his envious anta^o- 

 nist. 



