SHORES OF THE CLYDE AND FIRTH. 
91 
remain until the young escape ; then they (i.e., the young) 
take up their abode amongst the rubble and beneath the 
flat stones of the shore, and remain there until they are fit 
to contend with the exigencies of their rough and roving 
life. In common with the Crustacea order, these animals 
cast their shells. The process, however, is not periodical, 
but simply as the creature finds the interior carcass or body 
becoming too large for the case or shell it is cast off and a 
new one taken on ; and should the creature formerly have 
lost a leg or a number of toes, new ones then take the place 
of the missing ones. During the time of change, or moulting, 
so to speak, they are in a sickly, half -dormant condition ; and 
if taken up in the hand immediately after the old shell is 
dispensed with, the body has a soft, pulpy feel, but the 
action of the water very soon hardens the new substance, 
and in the course of a few days he is himself again. 
The term "fox of the shore," as we have applied to the 
crab tribes in general, is no misnomer. Here in sight, 
coming beneath our boat from the sunny side, is a red 
specimen of the same tribe. From his slow crawling move- 
ments he is after some prey, possibly something near at 
hand. Yes, it is evidently yonder buckie, or winkle as it 
is called in most parts of England, in pursuit of his own 
food ; the buckie is plodding along, earnestly looking ahead 
for what he can find. The crab, on the other hand, is 
stealthily following up, studiously keeping in a straight 
line behind the big shell, thereby keeping himself from the 
creature's view. All at once he makes a dash forward, but 
he stops as suddenly in his career, and throwing himself 
upon his edge, in an instant he is buried out of sight in the 
sand. Casting our eyes now upon the buckie, we notice 
that he also has withdrawn within his stony castle, having 
discovered the enemy in his dangerous approach. The foxy 
