New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-07-12
comedy and Trasedy Il al Aquarium.


Al short time since I placed two hermitcrabs in a
cup. One was about an inch and a half, the other
three.qaaTters Of an inch in length. They both
seemed to recover their health and spirits. As it is
highly amusing to witness obstercrab proceed to
occupy new she'll placed in the cup purpura,
that had several old barnaCle shells attached parasite
cay upon it. The little crab seemed as lively as
kitten and about as full of pranks. He very quickly
crept inside the shell, and hid himself from view
whether Intentionally or not, it is impossible for me
to say Immediately after the large crab came TO the
smooth lip of the WhelE, and put in his claw, IN the
usual style of all members of his family to see any
thing there to hinder his quiet occupancy OF the
dwelling. We can fancy how the msehieyous little
crab would shrink into the very end Whori as soon as
he got hint of his big brothers procedure. Being
satisfied with his survey the sober hermit lifted up
his soft and beautifully painted continuation
and let it drop with graceful curve inside the
aperture, then moved it about to find a proper
spot on which to hook it. Not an instant elapsed
before he whipped it out again with the celebrity
of lightning. He was in q rage. He had been
trieked and insulted and in his fright perhaps,
thought he was injured, instead of being only slightly
tckled. Revenge was evidently indicated by his ex-
cited movements Presently the wee practical Joker
peeped out, doubtless thinking his pranks had been
taken in good part Such was not the case. No
sooner did he appear than he clutched and, in
spite OF his puny opposition, t0rcible ejeCtment
served upon him, in addition to which he received
rather a severe personal chastisement The large
crab then quickly seated himself in his testaceOus
castle, and, have no doubt thought himself SUI
premely happy. Alas nor we, nor peaceful hermits
like our friend, can make sure of anything for long
His quiet was speedily disturbed. The infant Pagu-
rus searching about, found empty barnacle shell
on the top of the whelk, and in this he ensconced
himself From his turret he put out his claws and
annoyed his brother, by catching hold of his sensi
tive antenn@, without the latter having any power
to punish his troublesome relation in consequence of
not being able to bend his claws over his head The
only plan would have been for him to have come
out Of his she'll and mount mp to where his adversary
was so snugly seated but this he did not seem to
think Of bat evidently preferred settling desparngy
down into the nnermot recesses of the pnrpura out
of reach of petty annoyance, Next day | dropped
into the miniature tank old whelk SHE'LL the sur
face # which had been worn smooth by constant
knocking about on the beach. It was rather pecu-
liar shell, being nearly full of various sized holes
Into this object the large crab quickly eDtered and
took up his abode. The little fellow being left in the
elevated position, deserted it, and roamed about
in search Of food. took this opportunity Of lifting
out the original shell, put little seaweed in the cup
and left the brothers for the night. Next day, on
looking in, was ast0nshed to find the small crab in
two peces-ts body being broken off at the waist if
may so term it. The Two large claws of the other
crab were wrenched off his body and lying at the bot
tom of the cup two of his anterior legs were protrud-
ing through the holes in the shell and the poor Pagu.
rus himself was quite dead. How this tragic affair
happened | am at loss to conceive.
Anecdotes Of Marine Zoology.