122 CRUSTACEA AND MOLLUSCA FOR 



For this mode of life the " hermit " is wonderfully adapted 

 so that we arc almost tempted to assert, on the authority 

 of this fact alone, that univalve shells must have been 

 created before " hermits," because, had it been otherwise 

 these poor little creatures would have been left to the 

 mercies of fish, who are not at all averse to the tender 

 bodies of our heroes. In order that he may retain his habi- 

 tation and covering, the " hermit " is supplied with two 

 small hooked claws at the extreme end of his body, with 

 which he lays hold of one of the coils of the shell that he 

 has seen fit to choose and appropriate as his own for the 

 time being. The body of the " hermit " is essentially formed 

 for introduction into empty univalve shells, as it more 

 nearly resembles a worm than the body of a crab, and 

 has a twist in it, iu the form of a spiral, so that it ex- 

 actly fits the coils of an empty shell. 



As I said before, they arc extremely pugnacious crea- 

 tures ; and if two arc kept in the same tank, each will not 

 bo satisfied with appropriating a separate portion of it to 

 himself, but they will travel into each other's dominions, and 

 when they meet — wheu crab meets crab — " then conies the 

 tug of war." They fall to with a will, rolling over each 

 other like two dogs and throwing their claws about, snap- 

 ping them in their little fury ; and sometimes, although 

 not always, the fight will end in the death or mutilation of 

 one of the combatants. Oftener one will become victor and 

 assert his pow r er by always attacking the other when they 

 meet, whilst the vanquished will seem to remember the 

 combat and retreat whenever he sees the other coming. 



I have uever seen our common "hermit" (P. lovgicurpvs) 



