540 
CRAB. 
on the new. This also is found to be inconvenient, 
and it quickly returns to its old shell again. In 
this manner it frequently changes, till at last it finds 
one, light, roomy, and commodious ; to this it ad- 
heres, though the shell be sometimes so large as to 
hide the body of the animal, claws and all. It must 
be remembered, however, that the crab never occu- 
pies an habitation which it cannot readily move 
from place to place without inconvenience to itself. 
This species is armed with strong rough claws, of 
which the right is the longest ; the legs are taper, 
and the naked tail is furnished at the end with a 
hook by which it secures itself in its lodging. This 
animal, in common with other crabs, is very tena- 
cious of its hold, which it will seldom quit till the 
claw is torn from its body. It is diverting to see 
these little creatures in search of marine insects, 
moving their shells about among the rocks which 
have just been left by the tide. 
All the animals of this genus cast their shells at 
certain seasons, and likewise possess the power of 
reproduction. The loss of a limb, which frequently 
happens to these quarrelsome creatures, is of little 
consequence, as the defect is supplied by the growth 
of a new member in the course of a few weeks. So 
conscious are they of this powerful effort of Nature 
in their favour, that when bruised or maimed in 
any particular limb, they often cast it off, and retire 
to a place of safety till the injury is repaired. 
Of all the different species of crab, the Cancer 
Pisum is the least. This little creature (as its name 
