THE SAVAGE WORLD. 
49 
opportunity offers they put out their legs, lift the shell upon their backs in a 
most comical way and make off for the water. 
The hermit, totally unlike his congeners, is brought forth without any 
protective covering. His body is quite as long, relatively, as the lobster’s, but 
it is soft flesh, very inviting to fishes and crabs, so that to atone for making 
him thus helpless, nature endowed him with a cuckold’s disposition, and a cun¬ 
ning that enables him to supply that which he ought to have had at birth. No ■ 
sooner does the hermit issue from the egg than he makes off in search of a 
shell that will afford him a covering for his delicate body. Naturally he finds 
an abandoned periwinkle first, because these shells abound everywhere in the 
oceans and about the beach, and in such variety of size and shape that the 
most fastidious baby hermit might easily be suited. Having become thus 
entrenched, so to speak, against his foes, he goes ambling about, always carry¬ 
ing the periwinkle house on his back. At length, however, his body becomes 
too large for his first quarters, and 
he seeks out another that promises 
to accommodate him more comfort¬ 
ably. He is not so easily satisfied 
as at first, and usually continues his 
search a considerable time before he 
finds a shell which he thinks is 
adapted to his size and circumstances. 
When at length a proper abode is 
selected he turns it over, pokes his 
pretematurally large claw inside, and 
then drawing up within his own shell 
until the old and new quarters are in 
contact, he transfers himself with 
such rapidity of motion that the eye 
may not perceive the change. 
As the hermit continues to increase 
in size he must make frequent remov¬ 
als, but the process is always as de¬ 
scribed unless it chance, as frequently happens, that two hermits of like size 
have a desire to seize upon the same shell. It is manifestly impossible that 
two should occupy one shell, so to determine which shall be the possessor a 
duel to the death is fought. In these combats the most surprising ferocity 
is exhibited. Their bodies being well protected, they fight with the large and 
lesser claw, with which each is provided, pulling, snapping and lunging, rolling 
about, first one having an advantage and then another, until at length the claws 
of one give way. When this event happens, the one thus bereft of his weapons 
can make no defence, but this does not protect him against further assault, 
since magnanimity is not a trait of crab character. The victor continues the 
attack until, with vindictive savageness, he drags the body of his victim from 
its shell, mutilates it beyond recognition, and then eats the remains. 
The hermit grows to a length of about one foot, with body large enough to 
fill a conch shell. One of this size, when thus protected, presents a formidable 
front, his very large claw covering the mouth of the shell, with a small claw 
acting as a reserve, ready to give effectual reinforcement in time of need. So' 
4 
hermit crab (Pagurus miles .) 
