Glimpses of Ocean Life 9

Glimpses of Ocean Life 9

After examining his movements for an hour, I found, by dint of standing

on the points of his toes, poised on a segment of weed, that he managed

to touch the brim of the glass. Having got thus far, he next gradually

drew himself up, and sat upon the edge of the vessel. In this position

he would rest as seemingly content as a bird on a bush, or a schoolboy

on a gate.

 

My curiosity satisfied, the _C. mænas_ was again placed in the vase,

and every means of escape removed.

 

Here let me mention that I still had a Fiddler-Crab in my large tank,

who had formerly lived in companionship with the shore-crab above

mentioned. With 'the fiddler' I had no fault to find; he was always

modest and gentle, and gave no offence whatever to my Blennies. He

never attempted to embrace them, nor to usurp their lawful place at the

table, nor even to appropriate their meals. On the contrary, he always

crept under a stone, and closely watched the process of eating until

the coast was clear, when he would scuttle out, and feed, Lazarus-like,

upon any crumbs that might be scattered around.

 

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.

 

The second specimen, although equally grimy, had some redeeming points

in his personal appearance, for at intervals every part of his back and

claws were covered with small frondlets of ulva, dulse, _D. sanguinea_,

and other beautiful weeds, all of which were in a healthy condition.

After keeping him in a vase for a week, he managed, much against my

wish, to strip himself of the greater part of these novel excrescences.

 

Instead of minute algæ, we read that these crabs are sometimes found

with oysters (_Ostrea edulis_) attached to their backs. Mr. W. Thompson

mentions two instances where this occurs, with specimens of _H.

araneus_, to be seen in Mr. Wyndman's cabinet. Speaking of these, he

adds, 'The oyster on the large crab is three inches in length, and five

or six years' old, and is covered with many large Balani. The shell,

a carapace of the crab, is but two inches and a quarter in length,

and hence it must, Atlas-like, have born a world of weight upon its

shoulders. The presence of the oyster affords interesting evidence that

the Hyas lived several years after attaining its full growth.

 

For days after I had brought him home, my second specimen appeared as

if he were dead, and it was only by examining his mouth through a hand

lens that I could satisfy myself as to his being alive. When I pushed

him about with an ivory stick he never resisted, but always remained

still upon the spot where I had urged him.

 

This species of _acting_ he has given up for some time, and at the

present moment I rank H. araneus among my list of marine pets, for he

does not appear any longer to pine for mud with which to decorate his

person, but is quite content to 'purge and live cleanly' all the rest

of his days.

 

The ancients imagined that _Maia squinado_ possessed a great degree of

wisdom, and further believed him to be sensible to the divine charms

of music. It is very curious, as well as true, that this animal has

in a far higher degree than other crustaceans, a gravity of demeanour,

and a profound style of doing everything, that always excites our

irreverent laughter, but at the same time leaves an impression that,

if justice were done, the animal ought to hold a higher position in

the marine world than a scavenger and devourer of ocean garbage. If

_Maia_ and _C. mænas_ be both eating out of the same dish, in the shape

of an open mussel, the former seems ever inclined to admonish his

companion upon greediness and want of manners. The only seeming reason

why _M. squinado_ does not really give such advice, is because of the

impossibility of any individual speaking with his mouth full. The

knowledge, too, that if he commenced a pantomimic discourse, it would

give his young friend an opportunity of gaining too large a share of

the banquet, may, perhaps, have something to do with his preferring to

remain quiet.

 

As for _Maia's_ possession of appreciative musical qualities, I can

only state that both he and his friend _Hyas_ really do convey to

the beholder an impression confirmatory of this statement. I have

frequently been amused to observe the singular phenomenon of each

animal coming to the side of the vase and rocking his body to and fro,

in apparent delight at the exercise of my vocal abilities, just as

when a pleasing melody is being played in the concert room, we bend

backwards and forwards, and beat time to the tune. These animals also

adopt the same course: it must be to unheard music (which the poets say

is sweetest), that seems ever and anon to fall on their ears, giving

them great delight.

 

The movements here alluded to may be in no way influenced by music; but

such as they are, it is curious that they have not been noticed as an

apparent explanation of the origin of the ancient belief regarding the

Spider-Crabs.

 

* * * * *

 

A friend, on one occasion having procured for me, among other objects,

a Common Limpet, I placed this mollusc in my aquarium, and soon had

the pleasure of watching it affix its broad foot to the surface of the

glass. After a while, on the Limpet slightly raising its canopy, I was

surprised to observe a little Shore-Crab peer out from between the foot

and shell. On suddenly ejecting the intruder by means of a small brush,

he speedily hid himself from view among the surrounding pebbles. A few

hours after, on again approaching the tank to view the Patella (which

was easily identified, from the fact of an immense colony of Mussels

being settled on its back), I found to my great astonishment that the

crab had re-seated himself in his old position. I often repeated the

sweeping operation, but without success, for the little rascal had

become artful, and was not inclined to be driven forth a second time

by a _coup de main_. I touched the Limpet frequently and saw it glue

itself, as usual, to the glass; but, singular to state, the creature

always left a larger space between its foot and the circumference

of the shell on the side at which the crab was seated, than on the

opposite one, seemingly from a wish to accommodate its crustaceous

friend. This space, moreover, let me observe, was larger than was

absolutely necessary, for, as the shell was not air-tight, I was

enabled to thrust my camel-hair pencil teazingly upon the crab, and was

much amused to watch him clutch at the intruding object, and, at times,

move about with it in his grasp, thus proving that he was by no means

uncomfortably 'cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd.'

 

For a whole week the crab remained in his favorite lodgings, and only

resigned occupancy thereof when his friend gave up the shell--and died.

 

There is a certain species of crab, _Pinnotheres pisum_, or common

Pea-Crab, frequently found in _Mytilus edulis_, the Oyster, and the

Common Cockle. Indeed, one gentleman states, that on his examining, on

two occasions, a large number of specimens of the _Cardium edule_, he

found that nine out of every ten cockles contained a crab. Still, in no

other instance than the one my own experience furnishes, have I ever

heard of the Shore-Crab, or, indeed, of any other crustacean, becoming

the guest of _Patella_.

 

The classical reader will not fail to remember Pliny's statement

(somewhat analogous to that above narrated) of a small crab,

_Pinnotheres veterum_, which is always found to inhabit the Pinna,--a

large species of mussel. This latter animal being blind, but muscularly

strong, and its juvenile companion quick-sighted, but weak of limb, the

crab, it is said, always keeps a sharp look-out, and when any danger

approaches, he gladly creeps into the gaping shell for protection. Some

writers assert, that when the bivalve has occasion to eat, he sends

forth his faithful henchman to procure food. If any foe approaches,

_Pinnotheres_ flies for protection with his utmost speed to the anxious

bosom of his friend, who, being thus warned of danger, closes his

valves, and escapes the threatened attack. When, on the contrary, the

crab loads himself with booty, he makes a gentle noise at the opening

of the shell, which is closed during his absence, and on admission,

this curious pair fraternize, and feast on the fruits of the little one's foray.