Robin Chamness, age 7, of East Bank, W. Va, , for the question:

Does a turtle shed his shell?

From time to time, the crusty crab sheds his shell and waits for his new one to become hard. But not so the turtle. He has a tiny little shell on his back the very day he hatches. As he grows, the sla 11 grows with him. The growing shell is easily damaged. If it is daubed with paint, the chemicals prevent certain sections of the shell from growing and the little turtle becomes deformed.

Mr. Crab, of course, has no bones. His shell acts as his skeleton. The turtles shell is his home and his suit of armor. Inside it he has muscles, some skin and a complete set of bones.