
SOMETHING ABOUT CRABS. 267 
one’s house is quite an item in the reckoning to him who 
has to carry it on his back. One inspection more. How is 
it inside? Is it entirely empty, and is it of the right size? 
Up goes one of the long slender limbs of the second pair, 
and the interior is thoroughly explored. All right! Just 
the house he is after. His mind is now made up to move. 
Look at him! Quick! or you'll miss it! Out comes the 
body from the old house, and pop it goes into the new one! 
The resolution to move was taken, the surrender of the old 
house was made, and the occupancy of the new was effected, 
and all within a fraction of a second of time. 
Sometimes this matter goes on less pleasantly. Two 
house-hunters may find the same tenement. Should both 
desire it then comes the tug of war. Live together they 
neither can, nor will. The affair is settled by a battle, in 
which the stronger usually proves his claim right by the 
Carlyleian logic and morals, viz., might. Quite often from 
these encounters a terrible mutilation results. 
To us it is a sad sight to see the Little Hermit, when “his 
time has come,” and he knows it; that is when Pagurus 
must die. However droll his career may have been, the 
Little Hermit is grave then. And what a strange fact it is! 
Who can explain it? The poor little fellow comes out of 
his house to die! Yes, in order to die. To us humans 
home is the only right place to die in. But for Pagurus 
home has no attraction at this solemn time. Is it because 
he feels encoffined that he comes out, that “his feet may be 
in a wide place?” Poor fellow, with a sad look and melan- 
choly movement, he of his own will quits the house for 
which he fought so well. Those antenne, or feelers, that 
often stood out so provokingly, and were so often poked : 
Into everybody’s business, now in a feeling manner lie prone 
and harmless. The eyes have lost their pertness.. There lies 
the houseless Hermit on that mossy rock, stone dead! 
... The human side of these lowly creatures, as unfolded by 
Close observation of their habits, is much better understood 
