168 SEARCH FOE A NEW HOUSE. 



■was much too small, and, relinquishing it, proceeded 

 on his travels. 



Presently he came to shell No. 2, that he had tried in 

 vain yesterday ; that essay, however, he had evidently 

 forgotten, or at least did not recognise the shell ; for 

 he immediately hegan to turn it ahout, rolling it over 

 and over with his sharp feet, twisting the Actinia most 

 awry. He carefully examined the interior, feeling it all 

 over with hoth claws, and trying every spot as far as he 

 could reach ; this examination he continued for per- 

 haps five minutes, and then, as if satisfied, drewout his 

 feet and made an essay to quit his own shell. It was 

 apparent that the exposure of his soft person was 

 considered somewhat dangerous, for he first felt with 

 his antennae in all directions around, vibrating them 

 up and down, and partly coming out and retreating 

 several times before he ventured. At length, how- 

 ever, out he popped, and into the new house as 

 quickly, where he turned and settled himself com- 

 fortably. There was not much difierence in dimen- 

 sions between the shells, but, as I have said, what 

 there was, was in favour of his original dwelling. 



He remained in his new quarters for ten minutes or 

 more, moving about a little, but never for an instant 

 letting go his old house, on which he pertinaciously 

 kept his feet, occasionally putting in his pincers to 

 feel the interior. At length he decided that, incon- 

 venient as it was, it was better than the new one ; and 

 therefore he returned to it, as he had done the previous 

 day, and relinquished the attempt. 



The day following he repeated the same process of 

 temporary exchange, walking about for a considerable 



