Tanks No. 7 and 23. 
43 
(Fig. 64, tank 23) carries about on its slender legs plants, sponges, and 
ascidians; in fact the more crabs we examine the greater is the variety 
of toilets that we see. And what is their use ? They afford the best 
possible concealment from enemies and from prey. For all these objects 
have not fastened themselves on the crabs, but have been artistically 
Fig. 65. Maja s quin ado, i/ 2 nat. size. Tank 7. 
placed there by the crab itself — we dare hardly say intentionally — but 
by reason of an inherited instinct which impels the animal to disguise 
itself in this way. All triangular Crabs are exceedingly slow in their 
movements, and dressed up in this way they resemble most closely a stone 
overgrown with sea-weed ; especially as 
they have the habit of remaining quite 
motionless when alarmed. The apparatus 
for affixing these foreign bodies consists 
of a number of hooked bristles which 
are distributed all over the shell; there 
the crab deftly fastens with its claws 
the algae and other ornaments. The 
Larger Spider-crab, Maja squinado 
(Fig. 65, tank 7), covers its back with 
small stones and shells instead of with 
sea-weed. 
Lambrus (Fig. 66 , tank 23) de- F! S- 66 ‘ 
parts from this custom and depends 
more upon its large and strong claws than upon concealment. 
Some of the Crabs with a square body have similar habits. Dorippe 
lanata (Fig. 67, tank 23) gets hold of any living or dead object within 
its reach, holds it above its body with the claws of the two last pairs of 
legs, and walks about thus concealed. Sea-cucumbers and ascidians, crabs 
and starfishes, fishes’ heads, bits of glass or wood, in fact anything and 
