75 
cannot indeed, be easily made to quit this habitation, but shrink 
into it on the least appearance of danger; so that the usual 
■way in which they fall victims to an enemy is when the shell 
and its inhabitant are swallowed together. Few Crustaceans 
are more frequently found in the stomachs of fishes; and as 
they quit the shell when about to die, they soon become the 
food of their devourer, the empty shell being speedily re- 
jected from the mouth. These Crustaceans also quit their 
assumed tabernacle from increase of size, which as in others, 
is at the. time of exuviation ; and on one occasion when I was 
observing the combat of a pair in captivity, the smaller, which 
seemed to have felt itself fettered by its unwieldy covering, 
Initted the encumbrance, and manceuvered round the enemy 
with great alacrity in its naked condition. They often seize 
the fisherman’s bait, and are drawn up in deep water by the 
line; and in feeding I have seen it hold the prey with the 
smaller (or left) band, while the other was engaged in uipping 
off pieces and conveying them to the mouth. They breed 
When of small size, the pea being thrown round on the back ; 
f r om which position it is certain that they must quit the shell 
'n order to deposit it. 
SMOOTH HANDED HERMIT CRAB. P. Prideauxii. 
M. Edwards’ Crust., vol. 2, p. 216. Leach’s Malac., pi. 26. 
More scarce than the last species. 
I have examined a specimen of this Genus, with a line of 
hair encompassing the thorax, with a few rather long fibres 
j*lso pointing forward from the first segment of the. abdomen; 
out further observation is necessary to decide whether it be a 
mstinct species. 
PORCELL ANI AN S. 
Venus porcellana: carapace nearly circular ; the 
hands broad and twisted; the binder pair of legs slight and 
Weak, bent on the others, and ending with a finger. The 
abdomen bent under as in Brachyures, but ending in a fan 
shaped tail. 
MAIRY CRAB. P. Platychelus. M. Edwards’ Crust., vol. 
2, p. 255. Pennant, pi. 6, fig. 12. 
Abundant under stones at low water mark. It is incapable 
moving in any direction except backward, not lifting its 
c .aws, but drawing them after it; the antennas lying on the 
S| des of the carapace in the direction of its march. Unlike 
? Ur other Crabs, it does not wail for an attack to throw off its 
e S s ; but seizing an enemy with the nippers, it leaves them to 
a U the injury of which they are capable, whilst itself has 
^treated to a place of safety. 
^ONG HORNED PORCELLANA. P. Longiconm, M. 
Edwards’ Crust., vol. 2, p. 257. Pisidia L. Leach’s Malac. 
"ennant pi. 1 fig. 3. Common. 
