OVR C'ARCI.yO LOGICAL FRIENDS. 89 



HERMIT-CRABS. 



These sprightly little animals, which are usually 

 of small size, are a source of never-failing delight 

 to the student of nature. They have truly habits 

 of their own, which stamp them at once as being 

 ori^nal and distinctive. It is well known that the 

 ' hermits' derive their name from the seclusion 

 into which they cast themselves as inhabitants of 

 the shells of other animals, but it is probably not 

 so generally known that the rights of tenantry are 

 fref[uently exercised in a very arbitrary manner. 

 Thus, the hermit-crab is- not always satisfied in the 

 choice of a dead shell, but will raid upon a living 

 possessor and attempt to drag it from its strong- 

 hold ; and in this operation the assailant will fre- 

 quently receive the assistance of a number of its 

 fellows, each one carrying his castle as defensive 

 armor. It is true that the attack is probably in 

 many cases made for the double purpose of obtain- 

 ing the enemy as well as its belongings ; but, how- 

 ever this may be, forcible possession is by them 

 considered to be no misdemeanor. 



In the greater number of the hermit-crabs the 

 body is unprotected by a carapace, and, being soft 

 and liable to injury, the animal seeks protection 

 under cover usually of a snail-shell, winding itself 

 about the coils of the shell, to the inner extremity 

 of which it attaches itself by means of its modified 

 posterior feet. In this position the animal is only 

 with difficulty withdrawn, retracting itself farther 

 and farther within cover of the shell. A sudden 



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