Ch. XII.] HABITS OF HEEMIT CRABS. 187 



or a lizard, but on looking down I have seen nothing more 

 dangerous than a wandering hermit among the leaves. That 

 they eat vegetable as well as animal food I am certain, for at 

 Enoe I saw them clustered upon mangrove shoots which 

 had been borne there by the waves. I have often taken up 

 one of these, to which a number of hermits clung, and even 

 in my hands they have eagerly nibbled off the dark skin of 

 the tender shoot. So also in breaking into old decayed 

 trees in search of beetles, I have often been surprised to 

 find hermits (Ccenobitse) concealed within the heart of the 

 decaying wood, and feeding upon it. The variety of shells 

 which these little crabs occupy is very great, and by no 

 means confined to the turbinated Gasteropods, as Trochus, 

 Turbo, Natica, Neritina, &c., but Cones, Mitras, Seraphs, 

 Turritellse, &c., have also their tenants, in which they often 

 appear very awkwardly and grotesquely situated. On one 

 part of the coast of Johore, I remarked that they chiefly 

 inhabited the shells of the thorny woodcock (Murex), which 

 were strewed about, of all ages and sizes — some very minute 

 and young, and in good preservation. 



Lying down upon the beach, I have watched the shore- 

 crabs leisurely crawling up the sand, and often been struck 

 by their quicksightedness and wariness. Although perhaps 

 a dozen yards off, if I raised myself into a sitting posture, 

 they would instantly retrace their steps, and scuttle back ; 

 and even if I but raised my head, the gesture was not lost 

 upon them, but they would immediately stop, and await a 

 further demonstration on my part ; but if pursued, their 

 swiftness was such as often to elude my utmost endeavours 

 to capture them. 



The island I have alluded to as being so rich in Lepi- 

 dopterous insects, is called Pulo Daat or Daat, Pulo mean- 



