174 , A CRAB AT HOME. 



changed to a purplish- brown, quite permanent, neither 

 alterable with water nor with time. The specimens 

 came near to Arenicola hranchialis of And. et M. Edw., 

 but did not quite agree with the characters given to 

 the species by those zoologists. 



A CRAB AT HOME. 



At the w^ater's edge at the outer base of the Cap- 

 stone at low water, spring-tide, I was looking about 

 for Actinias, when peering into a hole I saw a fine 

 Crab, not of the very largest, but still of very nice 

 table dimensions. I poked in my arm and took hold 

 of him, and though he made vigorous efforts to hold 

 fast the angles and notches of his cave with his sharp 

 toes, I pulled him out and carried him home. I 

 I noticed that there came out with him the claw of a 

 crab of similar size, but quite soft, which, ] supposed, 

 might have been either carried in there by my gentle- 

 man to eat, or accidentally washed in. After I had 

 got him out, for it was a male, I looked in and saw 

 another at the bottom of the hole, which appeared to 

 me considerably smaller. I debated whether I should 

 essay this one also, but reflected that I could only eat 

 one at a supper, and that moderation in luxuries is 

 becoming ; " So," said I, " friend Crab, stay there till 

 next time ; I may find you here again on some other 

 auspicious morning." When I arrived at home, how- 

 ever, I discovered that I had left my pocket-knife at 

 the mouth of the crab -hole ; a fine strong-bladed 

 implement, that had already stood me in good stead 

 on several occasions, cutting holes for my footsteps 



