
248 A STROLL BY THE SEA-SIDE. 




























crab, not quite out, for he retains a hold upon the shell and 
drags it alertly after him. We have found the Hermit-crab 
(Plate 6, fig. 13), called by some the Soldier-crab on ae 
count of its extreme pugnacity, and receiving the first name, 
because, like a hermit, it lives alone in its shelly house. 
The species belonging to this genus are remarkable for the 
singular softness of the hinder portion of the body; this 
rather long, and is coiled on itself. To protect this soft pat: 
that would otherwise be nipped off by some hungry fish, the 
crab resorts to some empty shell, and, inserting his tail i 
the aperture, makes it his home, and carries it about 
him in all his perigrinatiens. a 
The hermit-crab, like other members of the class © 
tacea, increase in size through a process called “moulting. 
The hardened crust outside does not grow. Tt is omy 
hardened skin, as it were. Now as the body within increas 
in size, the outside shell must be thrown off, to alo the 
enlargement of the animal. This throwing off of the outst 
crust is called moulting, and takes place at certain times 
With the crabs, lobsters, and others, the animal appears" 
fast for some time, retires to a secluded nook in the i 
and there awaits the cracking open of its well-worn 
This crack takes place along the back, and throu 
opening the animal draws itself. After it comes a 
skin is soft and tender, and some time is required be i 
is sufficiently hardened to enable it again to successfully 
tle with its enemies. 
Our hermit-crab has still another stage to : 
moulting, for when this process has taken places it 
coiled shell too small for it, and must go on tha 
search, called house-hunting. Back and forth it traws 
beach, surveying with critical acumen the tenantless 
on the beach. Here it meets one altogether t00 © 
an amusing sight it is to see it drag its soft and DSF" 
from the shell, to try another one on to see if it fits. 
times it meets with a shell that is apparently just ey 
go thro! 
