. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . ff their old shells, which they leave as it were quitewhole, the place where they are opened on the belly being unseen. At thattime they are quite naked, and almost without motion for six days together,when they become so fat as to be delicious food. They have then under theirstomachs four large white stones, which gradually decrease in proportion asthe shell hardens, and when they come to perfection are not to be found. Itis at that time that the animal is seen
. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . ff their old shells, which they leave as it were quitewhole, the place where they are opened on the belly being unseen. At thattime they are quite naked, and almost without motion for six days together,when they become so fat as to be delicious food. They have then under theirstomachs four large white stones, which gradually decrease in proportion asthe shell hardens, and when they come to perfection are not to be found. Itis at that time that the animal is seen slowly making its way back; and allthis is most commonly performed in the space of six weeks. The descent of these creatures for such important purposes, deserves ouiadmiration; but there is an animal of the lobster kind that annually de-scends from its mountains in like manner, and for purposes still more im-portant and various. Its descent is not only to produce an offspring, but toprovide itself a covering; not only to secure a family, but 1o furnish ahouse. The animal in question is the Soldier Crab, or Hermit Crab,1 whicb. nas some similitude to the lobster, if divested of its shell. It is usuallyabout four inches long, has no shell behind, but is covered down to the tailwith a rough skin, terminating in a point. It is, however, armed withstrong, hard nippers before, like the lobster; and one of them is as thick as 1 Pagurus Bemhardus. Lin. CRUSTACEA—CRAB. 789 a mans thumb, and pinches most powerfully. It is, as was said, without ashell to any part except its nippers; but what nature has denied to this ani-mal, it takes care to supply by art; and taking possession of the desertedshell of some other animal, it resides in it, till, by growing too krge for itshabitation, it is under a necessity of change. It is a native of the WestIndia Islands; and like the former, it is seen every year descending from themountains to the seashore, to deposit its spawn, and to provide its
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookidnaturalistsl, bookyear1851
