The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-26
"AT TnE SAVE TABLE.
The Crab Makes Strange Friend
ships and Sticks Close.

From tho New York Journal.
The crab has been generally known as
a clever animal. but there are probably
few persons who are aware OF the extent
TO which his cleverness is exercised, under
certain conditions. II has been found
that when opportunity offers. the crab
viii unite himself with another animal for
the purpose Of mutual protection. The
other animal can't get away, even II he
should be so disposed. But there Is ev-
cry reason to believe that, so far from
being dissatisfied with his new condition.
he is more than pleased, and would not
change Il II he could
This extraordinary phenomenon IS
known among scientists by the name OF
commensalism, which comes from the
Latin words meaning .at the same ta-
BILE" the application being that the crab
and his friend eat the very same food.
the crab acting as the provider, while his
friend performs the valuable office OF pro-
tectlon. Examples OF this commensalism
are very rare. The most remarkable
cases are those of the hermit crab in
union with certain anemones commonly
known as sea urchins.
The hermit crab dwells In the empty
shells OF certain mollusks which have
been deserted by their previous inhab-
itants. Upon their shells are sometimes
found certain anemones, or sea urchlns.
not clinging by force OF their peculiar
suck pump arrangement but actually
grown on to the crab and forming a
part OF one and the same animal
1t has been conclusively demonstrated
that this conjoining OF the crab and anem-
one Is not a mere matter OF chance, but
is effected for the purpose Of mutual as
sistance. The anemone is evidently OF
great use TO the crab by defending his
home with his numberess tentacles, which
constitute verltable battery Of nettles.
ever ready TO do battle with the myr-
lads Of fishes that beset him. AS for the
crab, thanks to his long claws, he can
use them to search for nourishment. The
anemOne having neither feet nor eyes,
profits largely by this, and absorbs what
Is not used by the crab
Some naturalsts have maintained that
the crab directly feeds the anemone, but
this is undoubtedly a fiction. 1t is also
proved that the association IS a very
friendly one Mr.. l.. Eaurot. a French
scientist, has observed that the sea ur-
chin abandons the shell after the crab
has been removed from IT, He has also
noticed that the sea urchin, on being
taken from the shell covering the crab,
and an empty shell surmounted with sea
urchins being placed near, the crab will
and affix himself 10 IT,
When certain crab inhabitlng cas-
sodane Zone OF the largest of ocean shelis)
from which the anemones had been re-
moved, was put in the presence OF other
anemones he Immediately began to max
the most vigorous and comical efforts to
get some one Of them to associate with
himself The anemones In this case were
adhering to the glass sides OF the aqua
rum. The crab, after working his way
laboriousy 70 their neighborhood, grabbed
an anemone with his claw and
held onto IL for dear life After pulling
II off from the surface to which It was ad-
herring he carried 1t to his shell. Little
by little the anemone would creep up the
could lodge himself until death should
divorce him from the crab.