86 
It is interesting to note that the cranes have realised 
the ideal of the modern socialist. They are extremely 
sociable and live on the most excellent and friendly 
terms, not only with their congeners but also with most 
aquatic birds, with this result:— 
“ The crane is in continual activity from early in the morning 
till late in the night; but it gives a few hours only in the morning 
to the task of searching for its food, chiefly vegetable. All the 
remainder of the day is given to society life. ‘ It picks up small 
pieces of wood or small stones, throws them in the air and tries 
to catch them ; it bends its neck, opens its wings, dances, jumps, 
runs about, and tries to manifest by all means its good disposition 
of mind, and always it remains graceful and beautiful.’”—(Kropotkin. 
P- 352-) 
According to the same authority, animals which lead 
a more or less solitary life will assist one another when 
need arises. 
“ Some land crabs of the West Indies and North America combine 
in large swarms in order to travel to the sea and to deposit therein 
their spawn, and each such migration implies concert, co-operation, 
and mutual support. As to the big Molucca crab (Limulus), I was 
struck (in 1882, at the Brighton Aquarium) with the extent of mutual 
assistance which these clumsy animals are capable of bestowing upon 
a comrade in case of need. One of them had fallen upon its back in 
a corner of the tank, and its heavy saucepan-like carapace prevented 
it from returning to its natural position, the more so, as there was 
in the corner an iron bar which rendered the task still more difficult. 
Its comrades came to the rescue, and for one hour’s time I watched 
how they endeavoured to help their fellow-prisoner. They came two 
at once, pushed their friend from beneath, and, after strenuous 
efforts, succeeded in lifting it upright ; but then the iron bar would 
prevent them from achieving the work of rescue, and the crab would 
again heavily fall upon its back. After many attempts one of the 
helpers would go in the depth of the tank and bring two other crabs, 
which would begin with fresh forces the same pushing and lifting 
of their helpless comrade. We stayed in the Aquarium for more 
than two hours, and when leaving we again came to cast a glance 
upon the tank: the work of rescue still continued ! Since I saw that 
I cannot refuse credit to the observation quoted by Dr. Erasmus 
Darwin—viz., that ‘ the common crab, during the moulting season, 
stations as sentinel an unmoulted or hard-shelled individual to