Page:Sea and River-side Rambles in Victoria.djvu/55

36 discovered that it was a small crab, which had evidently so disguised itself the better to obtain its prey. We were unable at the time to refer to our books to decide the species which had adopted this plan, and rapid decomposition set in subsequently, so that to this moment we remain in ignorance; but a writer of a paper in Volume 8 of the "Naturalist," (1858, page 7), called "Notes on Crustaceans," mentions having observed this peculiarity in crabs of the genus Hyas; and in one instance he was amused at seeing a fine fellow stalking along with all the majesty which borrowed plumes often produce;—it was in a large deep pool round the edge of which abrupt rocks stood, one affording a shelter for some very fine tufts of Delesseria sanguinea, amongst which he had established himself; but noticing, no doubt, that the color of his shell was an unpleasing contrast to the handsome weed, he proceeded to array himself with small bits of the extremity of the frond, which he detached, and stuck upon his carapace in an extremely irregular manner, giving him a most ludicrous appearance. This author had another opportunity of observing this process in a specimen which he had in his Aquarium.

But we should not omit to say a few words of the Birds of the Sea-shore, since they tend so much to our enlivenment—we could not forget them if we would: there are first the Gulls, ever restless, screaming their shrill note now just over our heads, and anon flying far out to sea in search of food, in the choice of which they do not seem very particular, preying greedily upon Fishes, Crustacea, Mollusca, and almost any