THE MARINE AQUARIUM. 



121 



of one or both their eyes. This is attributed by fishermen 

 to attacks from the common black-fish. It is sometimes 



"Si 



Warty Ilermit Crab. 



distinguished as the Warty Ilermit crab. Hermit crabs, or, as 

 naturalists familiarly term them " Hermits," are, also, called 

 soldier-crabs, from their pugnacious propensities ; although 

 this name has likewise been applied to another species 

 (Gelasi?nus vocans), as I shall mention further on. The "Her- 

 mits" are a class of crabs that have no hardened shell on 

 the posterior portion of their bodies, the claws and legs 

 only being shielded by the horny-case that we find upon 

 other crabs. For the reason of being thus unprotected by 

 nature, they have to find for themselves some coating to 

 ward off the attacks of enemies, and the empty shells of 

 many of the univalves are taken possession of by these crea- 

 tures, who thus, literally, carry their houses on their backs. 



