92 
ANIMAL LIFE ON THE 
crab knows he has been discovered too soon, hence his 
sudden and mysterious exit below ; but while he is there it 
might be supposed he is ignorant of what is going on. Oh, 
no ; he is fully alive to every movement ; for while his body 
is completely buried, his eyes are thrust above the sand, 
perched upon the top of his stalks, and there they revolve 
in all directions, viewing, unseen, the whole scene around 
him. This is certainly a most convenient and handy 
arrangement for the crab, but he has yet another foxy trick 
to accomplish before he can capture his prey. The simple 
buckie soon forgets his danger, and throwing out his eyes, 
which, like his lesser brother, the purple lip, are also placed 
upon the horns, but only about half-way up, reconnoitres 
the position, and finding, as he thinks, the coast clear, 
comes out of his shell again, and renews his plodding search. 
Calmly and motionless master crab remains within his 
burrow, and views, no doubt with satisfaction, the buckie 
out again to its fullest extent. Well he knows that the 
least false or hasty move on his part will produce the hiding 
tactics of both over a'jain; but watch how slyly he goes 
about his work. Waiting until the buckle's eyes are again 
directly down in front of his own big shell, consequently 
keeping out of his own sight anything that may be in a 
straight line behind, master crab slowly emerges from his 
burrow, and raising himself straight up, his upper shell is 
completely covered over with sand, then with this covering, 
like a setter dog, he very cautiously advances, and when 
within springing distance, he makes a dash upon his prey, 
and this time, before the poor buckie has time to withdraw 
within his shell, the nippers of the crab are bedded to the 
hilts in the soft body of his victim, and a lordly feast is 
there and then begun. 
Although the crab displays much cunningness in circum- 
