Although, as already stated, this animal cannot be drawn out of his shell except by extreme force, the object can easily be obtained by aid of strategy. Having been for some time at a loss how to give certain young visitors a sight of the Hermit-Crab in his defenceless state, I, by accident, hit upon the following simple plan:-- With a piece of bent whalebone I lifted up a Pagurus, shell and all, and allowed the latter to drop upon the outer row of the tentacula of an Actinia, which quickly stuck fast to the intruding object. The crab at first did not seem fully alive to his critical position. He popped out of his shell and looked unsuspectingly around, until catching sight of my face, he instantly retired from view with a casket-like snap. In a minute he was out again, and this time prepared to change his position. For this purpose he gave several successive pulls, but finding all his efforts to remove his carriage unavailing, he unhooked his tail and scrambled down among the pebbles. My purpose was thereby gained, for the next moment he was resting in the palm of one of my juvenile friends, who seemed quite delighted with his prize. Twice afterwards, being in a mischievous mood, I gave the crab a fright in the way just mentioned; but it was quite evident, that what might be sport to me was death to him, for he was both annoyed and alarmed at my procedure. Even when guiltless of any intention of touching the creature, if I merely showed him the cane he immediately hobbled away at the utmost rate of speed he could muster. On several occasions I followed after and brought him back to the edge of the tank, although such conduct met with his strongest disapproval, and caused him for some time to sulk beneath an arch-way of rock work, away from the reach of vulgar eyes. Upon the side and near the base of my tank a fine specimen of the Limpet was at one time attached. From the centre of its shell a forest of sea-grass waved gracefully, shadowing a large colony of Barnacles thickly clustered beneath. Soon the Patella decided upon taking its usual morning stroll in search of food, a task of little difficulty, standing as the animal already did upon the margin of a broad meadow, richly coated with a verdant growth, composed of the infant spores of the Ulva. Slowly moving along, the Patella, with its riband-like band of teeth, swept off the luscious weed in a series of graceful curves, thus making an abundant and healthful meal. Before proceeding far, however, he was forced to bear the weight of a Soldier-Crab, who had most unceremoniously climbed upon his back, and taken up a position at the base of the _latissima_ fronds. There seemed so much nonchalance about the Pagurus that I determined to watch his movements, and, if possible, to see how he would manage to descend from a position which, if the mollusc continued his mowing operations, would soon be unenviably high.