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CHAPTER IX. 



CRABS — LOBSTERS — SHRIMPS— PRAWNS, AND FISH. 



Among the living creatures that force them- 

 selves on the notice of any one who walks on the 

 borders of the sea, the various crustaceans are 

 perhaps the most conspicuous. Without attempt- 

 ing here to treat of the Crustacea scientifically, 

 I shall mention those creatures that may be seen 

 almost on any day and almost on any shore, leav- 

 ing the deeper scientific details to be obtained 

 from the very elaborate works that exist on the 

 subject. 



It is nearly impossible to walk for more than 

 a few paces on the wet space between tide-marks, 

 without disturbing a host of little crabs, that 

 scuttle about in dire perplexity, either trying to 

 flatten themselves against the ground, hoping to 

 be mistaken for pebbles, or endeavouring to conceal 

 themselves under the shade of a bunch of wrack. 

 Sometimes, on lifting up a heavy mass of sea- 

 weed, out comes a crab very unexpectedly, hold- 

 ing up a pair of claws with so ferocious an air 



