LOW LIFE IN THE SEA. 85 



of legerdemain. And the cause is not far to seek. If that 

 soft, nude, defenseless body were exposed but for an in- 

 stant, it might become the prey of some darting fish. 



4. These hermit-crabs are highly pugnacious. We once 

 took a pair of them that we suspected of being anxious to 

 change their houses. They were put in a vessel of sea- 

 water, and, full in sight of them, was placed an empty 

 winkle-shell, which we supposed was of the right size. 

 How they did fight for it ! It was a battle for life. One 

 succumbed at last, and died. The survivor coolly sur- 

 veyed his victim, and then surveyed the new premises. 

 After this, he promptly entered into possession ; and then, 

 pitiful to relate, he fell to eating his defunct comrade. Oh, 

 the cannibal ! The cut given of a hermit-crab shows ac- 

 tinea, or zoophite, upon the shell. These are sometimes 

 called sea-anemones, and animal flowers, on account of 

 their being real animals, with a flower-like form. 



Rev. Samuel Lockwood. 



