Although so modest and retiring, I soon discovered that this little crab possessed an ambitious and roving disposition. This made him wish to step into the world without, and proceed on a voyage of discovery—to start, indeed, on his own account, and be independent of my hospitality, or the dubious bounty of his finny companions. Taking advantage on one occasion of a piece of sandstone that rested on the side of the aquarium, he climbed up its slanting-side, from thence he stepped on to the top of the vessel, and so dropped down outside upon the room floor. For nearly two days I missed his familiar face, but had no conception that he had escaped, or that he wished to escape from his crystal abode. It was by mere accident that I discovered the fact.
Entering my study, after a walk on a wet day, umbrella in hand, I thoughtlessly placed this useful article against a chair. A little pool of water immediately formed upon the carpet, which I had no sooner noticed, than I got up to remove the parapluie to its proper place in the stand, but started back in surprise, for in the little pool stood the fugitive fiddler moistening his branchiæ.
Taking up the little prodigal who had left my protection so lately, I soon deposited him in a vase of clear salt water. After a while, thinking it might conduce to the happiness of both parties, I placed him in companionship with his old friend, Carcinus mænas. This, like many other philanthropic projects, proved a complete failure. Both creatures, once so harmless towards each other, seemed suddenly inspired by the demon of mischief. Combats, more or less severe, constantly occurring, in a few days I separated them.
The 'fiddler' I placed in the large tank, where he rested content, and never again offered to escape—evidently the better of his experience. Not so his old friend, who still continued obstinate and miserable as ever. In his case I determined to see if a certain amount of sternness would not curb his haughty spirit. For two days I offered him no food, but punished him with repeated strokes on his back, morning and evening. This treatment was evidently unpleasant, for he scampered about with astonishing rapidity, and ever endeavoured to shelter himself under the granite centre-piece. When I thought he had been sufficiently chastised, I next endeavoured to coax him into contentment and better conduct. My good efforts were, however, unavailing. Every morning I placed before him a newly-opened mussel, but on no occasion did he touch a morsel. All day he continued struggling, as heretofore, to climb up the side of his chamber, trying by every means in his power to escape. This untameable disposition manifested itself for about a week, but at the end of that time, on looking into the vase, I saw the crab seated on the top of the stone, his body resting against the glass. I then took up a piece of meat and placed it before him. To my surprise he did not run away as usual. Having waited for some minutes, and looking upon his obstinacy as unpardonable, I tapped him with a little stick—still he never moved. A sudden thought flashed across my mind; I took him up in my hand, examined him, and quickly found that he was stiff and dead!
There is a little crab, Porcellana longicornis, or Minute Porcelain-Crab, frequently to be met with in certain localities.
The peculiarity of this creature is the thickness and the great disproportionate length of his arms, as compared with the size of his pea-like body. He possesses a singular habit which I have not observed in any other crustaceans. He does not sit under a stone, for instance, but always lies beneath such object with his back upon the ground; so that when a boulder is turned over, these crabs are always found sitting upon it, whereas the shore-crabs, when the light of day is suddenly let in upon them, scamper off with all possible speed; or if any remain, it appears as if they had been pressed to death almost, by the weight of the stone upon their backs.
The colour of P. longicornis is that of prepared chocolate, shaded off to a warm red.
Another crab, equally common with those already mentioned, is to be met with when dredging, and in most rock-pools. At Wardie, near Edinburgh, I have seen hundreds of all sizes hiding beneath the rocks at low tide. Its scientific name is Hyas araneus, but it is better known as one of the Spider-Crabs. It claims close relationship with that noted crustaceous sanitory reformer, Maia squinado. Although this H. araneus is a somewhat pleasant fellow when you get thoroughly acquainted with his eccentricities, appearances are sadly against him at starting. Speaking with due caution and in the gentlest manner possible, consistent with truth, I must say that this crab is, without exception, one of the dirtiest-looking animals I have ever met with in my zoological researches. At a by no means hasty glance, he appears to be miraculously built up of mud, hair, and grit on every part, except his claws, which are long and sharp as those of any bird of prey.
The first specimen I ever saw, seemed as if he had been dipped in a gum pot, and then soused over head and ears in short-cut hair and filth.