(_Pagurus bernhardus_.)
This singular species of Crab has obtained its name from its habit of
remaining, as it were, secluded, in any empty shell, or hole of a rock,
it may fancy.
[Illustration: THE HERMIT CRAB, (_Pagurus bernhardus_.)]
The hinder part of its body, particularly the tail, being constantly
secure from injury, has its covering reduced to almost a membranous
state, while the tail, which assists the other species in swimming, is
almost obliterated; but in those which have chosen a shell for their
hermitage, some hook-like appendages are observed, which enable them to
maintain a secure hold of their borrowed dwelling. When the body has
grown too large for the shell occupied by the animal, it is obliged to
seek another of a larger size. The numerous combats they enter into
when seeking a new dwelling, have caused this animal to receive the
additional name of the Soldier Crab.
“The Soldier when about to seek a new habitation, is still seen,”
says an amusing writer, “in its own shell, which it appears to have
considerably outgrown; for a part of the naked body is seen at the
mouth of it, which the habitation is too small to hide. A shell,
therefore, is to be found, large enough to cover the whole body;
and yet not so large as to be unmanageable and unwieldy. To answer
both these ends is no easy matter, nor the attainment of a slight
inquiry. The little Soldier is seen busily parading the shore, along
that line of pebbles and shells that is formed by the extremest wave;
still, however, dragging its old incommodious habitation at its tail,
unwilling to part with one shell, even though a troublesome appendage,
till it can find another more convenient. It is seen stopping at one
shell, turning it and passing it by, going on to another, contemplating
that for a while, and then slipping its tail from its old habitation,
to try on a 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 adheres, though the shell be sometimes so large as to hide the
body of the animal, claws and all.”
Yet it is not till after many trials, and many combats also, that the
Soldier is thus completely equipped; for there is often a contest
between two of them for some well-looking favourite shell, for which
they are rivals. They both endeavour to take possession; they strike
with their claws; they bite each other, till the weakest is obliged to
yield, by giving up the object of dispute. It is then that the victor
takes possession, and parades in his new conquest three or four times
back and forward, upon the strand, before his envious antagonist.
When this animal is taken, it sends forth a feeble cry, endeavouring
to seize the enemy with its nippers; which if it fasten upon, it will
sooner die than quit the grasp. The wound is very painful, and not
easily cured.
On the English coasts the Hermit Crab is generally found in the shell
of the whelk, or when of a small size in that of the periwinkle; they
not unfrequently, however, remain in some cranny of a rock, or under
the protecting cover formed by a group of pebbles, in the interstices
of which they hide themselves.
The ancients were well acquainted with the Soldier Crab, as is evident
from the following translation of the lines of one of their poets:
The Soldier Crabs unarmed by nature, left
Helpless, and weak, grow strong by harmless theft.
Fearful they crawl, and look with panting wish
For the cast crust of some new-covered fish;
Or such as empty lie, and deck the shore,
Whose first and rightful owners are no more.
They make glad seizure of the vacant room,
And count the borrowed shell their native home;
Screw their soft limbs to fit the winding case,
And boldly herd with the crustaceous race.
But when they larger grow they fill the place,
And find themselves hard-pinched in scanty space,
Compelled, they quit the roof they loved before,
And busy search around the pebbly shore,
Till a commodious roomy seat be found,
Such as the larger shell-fish living owned.
Oft cruel wars contending soldiers wage,
And long for the disputed shell engage;
The strongest here the doubtful prize possess,
Power gives the right, and all the claim confess.