I. '21. 18 



also from the north coast of France and the Bay of Biscay, 

 Portugal, and the Mediterranean (Milne-Edwards and Bouvier). 

 It occurs on the southern and eastern coasts of the North Sea 

 (Metzger, Tesch), in the Skagerak and Kattegat (Meinert, 

 Bjorch), on the coasts of Sweden (Goes, Lagerberg), and at 

 Kiel (Mobius). It extends along the whole coast of Norway 

 round the North Cape into the Murman Sea (Birula, Sars). It 

 occurs off the south and south-west coasts of Iceland, but has 

 never been found on the north and east (Hansen). At the 

 Faeroes it is common. It has not been taken by any of the 

 expeditions to Greenland, but is found on the east coast of 

 North America from about 45° N. to 87° N. 



The specimens which have been recorded from Unalaska by 

 Brandt as " Pagurus Bernhardus var. granulata-denticulata.^^ 

 and from Kamchatka by Owen as "P. strehlonyx'^ appear 

 to belong to some other species than E. Bernhardus. 



Vertical Distribution : — The species occurs in all depths from 

 the littoral zone, where it often literally swarms in the rock- 

 pools, down to 265 fathoms (Benedict). It occurs in greatest 

 numbers between the shore and the 15-fathom line, but the 

 Helga has also taken several specimens from much greater 

 depths, including several from 91 fathoms and one from 245 

 fathoms (S. R. 1843). 



Irish Distribution. — Found in great abundance all round 

 the coast. 



The shell inhabited by E. Bernhardus is very often covered 

 with colonies of the hydroid Hydractinia. Many of the Irish 

 specimens also bear anemones, and sometimes the shell is 

 entirely embedded in the sponge Ficulina. In some cases the 

 shell has gradually been dissolved away by the encrusting 

 sponge, so that the hermit ultimately comes to lie in a tunnel 

 in the substance of the latter. The shells inhabited by this species 

 vary, but it shows a decided preference for Buccinum. The 

 following list shows the numbers inhabiting the different kinds 

 of shells amongst the specimens taken by the Helga^ : — 



in Buccinum 



56 



per cent 



in Fusus 



26 



?5 



in Natica 



12 



?J 



in Turritella 



4 



5? 



in Nassa 







Dentalium 







Trochus 



\ 2 



>5 



Littorina 



1 





Cassidaria, 







etc. 







Those individuals who inhabit Dentalium shells show^ certain 

 peculiarities. They are quite straight and the hind part of 



1 No allowance is here made for the selective action of the Helga s fishing 

 gear. Trawling, the method of fishing most used, is more adapted for catching 

 large than small specimens. 



