1G2 ITS LIFE AND DEATH. 



points, opens and expands them, forcing apart the 

 gravel : at the same moment the posterior part of the 

 body is brought down into the hollow thus made, and 

 the action of the feet is repeated. The process is 

 continued until the hinder parts are covered, and the 

 muzzle alone is visible, with the two claws. Thus it 

 sits quite still, reminding one of a toad, the broad 

 triangular pedipalps that fit so close, occasionally 

 opening, like the folding doors of a tiny cabinet, and 

 allowing the palpi to be thrust out to wipe the minute 

 eyes. The face, when examined with a lens through 

 the glass walls of the Aquarium, has a most funny 

 expression, being singularly like that of an ancient 

 man. 



Like many marine animals, the Ebalia uses the 

 hours of night as its chief season of activity. As long 

 as the candles are in the room, it remains pretty still, 

 but as soon as darkness reigns it sets out on its travels. 

 Not indeed with the railway pace of some of its fellows, 

 does our little ancient travel; he is but a "slowcoach;" 

 but he gropes about among the pebbles, and is usually 

 found the next morning, buried at some distance from 

 the point where the previous evening had left him. 

 Fortunately his movements are easily traced ; for the 

 tall ventricose parasite which he carries on his back 

 cannot easily be concealed; and this betrays the 

 secret of his hiding-place. 



I kept my little prisoner for five or six weeks ; and 

 he might have survived an indefinite time, but for the 

 violence of a powerful neighbour. One morning I 

 saw his shell and limbs broken to fragments, and 

 emptied of all the soft parts. More than suspicion 



