The record-union., 1894-03-03
CRABS AS BUILDERS.
Troubles and Trials of the Soldier
Crab.
Act as Their Own urgeons-Consid-
cred Deiicacy by Marines
The Hermit Crab.

The world looks inquisitively at the
moon and the stars and wonders whether
or not they are inhabited, and if so what
curious creatures constitute the various
orders of life upon them, says a writer in
the Chicago I1tter-Ocean.
Why tax our curiosity with specula-
tions on these faraway planets and comets
when we know so little of the globe we
live on and its inhabitants?
What interesting little creatures, for
instance, are the crabs! And the most
curious family of crustaceans are the So
called hermit crabs. These ingenious
little creatures, as they grow up, seem to
learn by instinct that, on account of their
soft, PUPPY abdomen and their boneless
and defenseless bodies, they will never
be able TO reach old age or to offer def
ance to their rapacious enemies, so they
go house-hunting. All they need to rem
der them proof against the attacks of
more powerful adverSaries is a hard shell
domiclle into which they can take refuge
at the approach OF danger. 1t Is not al
ways so easy for them TO lind substantial
vacant shells or calcareous residences to
let. When an empty shell is found well
and good, but when they are in a strait
they do not hesitate to force their nip
pers into occupied univalves, when they
will kill the mollusk and occupy the
premises.
These facts can readily be verified by
anyone who will examine the small and
large shells on the seacoast. Snails OF all
sizes must vacate their houses for these
Iong-legged marauders, becoming help
less victims OF their powerful prehenSlle
weapons OF oHense.
The soldier crab, or what is known by
scientists as the Pagurus Bernhardus,
passes through an eventful career. He
spends his tender youth on the strands of
the North Sea, the Mediterranean and
other large inland seas. When he has
outgrown parental supervision and casti-
cations he HES him to comparatively
Geep sea bottoms and selecting large
sized snail, he makes square meal OF all
but the spiral shell, IN which he makes
himself at home, smiling cOnplacentIy
at the fishes and other Inhabitants OF the
deep, who come to interview the bold
interioper.
Alter this transition his crabship be-
comes lonesome like other Grabbed old
bachelors and goes courting among the
lower animal life Of The aquatic gardens.
This move on his part procures him
companion for life, to share his joys and
sorrows, and as this belI-shaped belle,
this strange formation on the roof of his
house, can scratch dreadfully with her
sentacular organs, be obtains an addi-
tional means of protection against unwel-
coined guests. In return for her valu-
able services the sea anemone, as it is
called, receives the remnants of the prey
which the crab has no difficulty to appre-
hend with his handy nippers.
Though avoided by the most formida-
bic fishes, whose insIdes would be torn
to pieces if they would attempt to swal-
low and deYour these combinations, yet
they are caught by men in nets, and sail
ors know of no more delicious It'd bit
than the flesh of the Bernhard and her
NIT crabs. This species has most
beautiful red color, ten feet, and sharp
pair of scissors, which will hold tena-
ciously to the hardest substance COM
ing within its grasp. The strange bride
Of the Bernhard crab has a grayish
ground color, interspersed with red spots,
aud is lined off with multi-colored
stripes, the ensemble presenting pretty
picture.
Crabs, however, are subject 10 growth
like other creatures, and it so happens
that the conquered forts become uncom-
fortably small for their fat bodies, when
q more spacious home must be found.
The anemone is never found on an empty
shell. Whenever this animal flower is
met one is sure to find It's companion in
the basement. Nor do the strange mates
separate on moving day. The crab at
tacks the inmate OF a larger shell, devours
the luscious meat and settles in the new
house. Meanwhile the anemone is not
idle but glides and creeps at the rate of
an inch an hour from one roof to the
other, when the happy panionship is
continued.
Not all crabs are subject to such won
derful transitions and acquire such
strange formations, but all undergo cer-
tain natamOrphosis. On emerging from
the egg they are provided with long tails,
swimming appendages, and sessile eyes,
and bear so little resemblance TO the par
ent form that until half century ago
their connection with the crab was alto
gether unsuspected. They were known
as zoeas. After moulting, the eyes ap-
pear on stalks and nippers on the anterior
pair of legs, but this form is still suf-
1iciently uncrablike to have deceived
early biologists, who described it as form
ing a distinct genus, and it is not till
further casting of the skin that the Great
ure assumes the perfect form. As its in
ternal parts continue to grow its external
shell soon becomes too small and is cast
OF, the crab generally concealing itself
until its new and greatly enlarged cover
ing becomes sufficiently hardened. This
process of moulting, say the naturalists,
takes place very frequently in the young
crab, and gradually becomes rarer as the
creature approaches its full growth, crabs
being often found with oysters attached
to the carapace, which, Judging from their
size, must have grown there for three or
four years. a still more remarkable
power is that possessed by crabs of res
producing limbs which have been volun-
tarily thrown OFT or have been lost by ac-
cident.
1t must be conceded that the numerous
varieties of crabs offer an interesting
study to everyone interested in zoology.