The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-03-25

vey the field. wei-amed blow and quick
passage Of arms place the incum bent h0rs de com.
Bat: he is dragged from the gates, and quick as
| thought the conqueror throws his rear within
the castle, winds up the spiral turret, and pre-
sents a bold front of mailed arInor at the gate.
| This stronghold is held unless some party yet
stronger gives battle anew
| The hermit.crabs are exceedingly puSnacious,
| and seemed to be continually disposed TO rout
| and plumber. Several large ones were sent
North, packed in small box. One individual
remained: he, the strongest, had devoured all
that was edible of the others, leaving only the
shells and claws. The survivor was kept under
| glass bell for year. He moulted once sue
cessfully, casting a perfect she'll an exact fac
simile OF himself; but he died in the act of east
| ing the second time. This crab became quite
tame; exiting from the hand, and remaining par
| TALLY ont OF the shell when touched, though
usually they remain ''closely mewed up" when
approached.
1t Is a ludicrous sight Mt times when great
numbers of these creatures congregate about a
! carcass, or climb the bushes after rain to sip
the moisture from the hollow leaves An officer
OF the post at Tortugas lately arrived, filled his
pockets with the pretty shells SO profusely scat
tered upon the keys. On landing at the wharf,
homeward bound, he was much surprised at the
manifestly improper expression that met him in
every face of the guard, from sergeant to pri
vate. a friendly voice called his attention to
the crawling multitude which now well.nigh
likened him to the tawdry shel-work of frames
and fancy boxes The crabs, in many instances,
can retire within the shells so far that they al
not readily observed. One, enthusiastic in his
fret blush of delight at finding 80 large nun.
Der of pretty shells near each other is quite
likely to fill his pockets greediy, without stop
ping to examine them, then and there. The
shy creatures withdraw, and hug closely the in
ner chamber Of the shell the instant footstep
is felt, and SO remain until all danger is past
hence the possible mistake of which our friend
really became the victim. An amusing sight
was afforded in the office of the engineer in
charge at Fort Jefferson. The oficer-now orr
distinguished Quarter-master-gener
large number of these crabs, from the largest to
the smallest, placed upon the floor. Then COM
menced a novel scene-battles and combats,
sparring, and rough-and-tumble fights; while
numbers of them crawled upon the walls, and
manifested every phase of curiosity by examin.
ing closely every part of the ROOM A large
species, which usually selects the turbo, shell
about the size of a large tea.cup, had the habit
Of living under houses or logs, and seemed to
sally forth more at night. Occasionally they
would crawl into the house. One particular in
divldual became notorious as a constant visitor,
and regularly erawled up the corner of book.
Chbc W uTluh WaJer from u Ulsn-QeVer, OF course
leaving his shell behind. They present an ex-
ceedingly grotesque appearance stumbling along
with their heavy stolen shells. Diogenes must
have learned his habit from these creatures
Some naturalist has given the philosophers
name t. one species.
These hermits seldom adopt An imperfect she'll
but the height of the ludicrous was reached
when we discovered an individual ensconed
within the bowl of an old black clay pipe nearly
stemless. 1t required all the faction the poor
weak abdomen could muster to keep sure ten
ure of possession. COMMUNICATING his forlorn
condition we gave him chance to change quar-.
ters-an opportunity which he seized with also.
rity not unlike in that respect some in the ar
my delight in turning each other out accord
ing to rank" The hermit is opposed to "com-
mutation of quarters" and takes his ''in kind
classmates though they be, of one StOrV, and no
back ac,ndo'e. Prom 'Along the Florida Reefs -
by ]. B. Holder, in Harpers Noga=ins for 1p7l
After eighteen years of actual practice says
the late Dr. Geo. Fl. Dadd,) l have come to the
conclusion that the business of physician is to
aid nature by administering medicines OF a san.
nhre character, which are calculated to preserve
the integrity of the vital forces while the dis.
runs its course. l believe that most of the
durable cases self limited, only requiring the
use Of some simple form of medicine the action
| of which is alterut!Ce. He further adds that
Messrs. Lord & Smith, of Chicago, have prep ared
the best Alternative ever known to science, con
tanning no agent that can possibly have q bad
effect on the system of any living creature, yet
| calculated to be potent in the cure of any dis
else. This alterutire is found in the well known
Equine Condition Powders" which are safe
and reliable.
Sold by all Druggists.
Their Horse and Cattle Guide" sent by mail
free.
For sale nv +, Y C,riov.