296 
NATURAL HISTORY 
itself in its lodging. They inhabit the empty cavities 
of turbinated shells, changing their habitation, accor- 
ding to their increase of growth, from the small nerite 
to the large whelk. Nature denies them the strong cov- 
ering behind, which it hath given to others of this class, 
and therefore directs them to take refuge in the deser- 
ted cases of other animals. They crawl very fast 
with the shell on the back; and, at the approach of 
danger, draw themselves within the shell, and, thrus- 
ting out the larger claw, will pinch very hard what- 
ever molests them. This is called the soldier, from 
the idea of its dwelling in a tent. It is very diverting to 
observe these animals when they have occasion to change 
their shell. The little soldier is seen busily parading the 
shore along that line of pebbles and shells which is for- 
med by the extremest wave, still however dragging its 
old incommodious habitation at its tail, unwilling to part 
with one shell, even though a troublesome appendage, 
till it can find another more convenient. It is seen stop- 
ping at one shell, turning it, and passing it by; going 
on to another, contemplating that for a while, and then 
slipping its tail from its old habitation to try on the new; 
this is also found to be inconvenient, and it quickly re- 
turns to its old shell again. In this manner it frequenly 
changes, till at last it finds one light, roomy, and com- 
modious; to this it adheres, though the shell be some- 
times so large as to hide the body of the animal, claws 
and all. When this animal is taken, it sends forth a feeble 
cry endeavouring to seize the enemy with its nippers; 
which, if it fastens upon, it will sooner die than quit the 
grasp. 
Crab. (PL 51.) The common crab has three notches 
on the front; five serrated teeth on each side; the claws 
elevated; the next joint toothed; the hind feet subula- 
te d: the colour a dirty green, but red when boiled. 
It inhabits all our shores, and lurks and burrows un- 
der the sand. It is sold, and eaten by the poor of our 
capitals. 
There are varieties of this kind of fish, each of which 
annually sheds its shell, like the lobster. 
