240 ASTACIDJE. 



during the next two days, he exhibited the wildest 

 terror. On the third he appeared to gain confidence, 

 and ventured to use his nippers, though with some timi- 

 dity ; and he was not yet quite so hard as he had been. 

 In about a week, however, he became bolder than ever ; 

 his weapons were sharper, and he appeared stronger, and 

 a nip from him was no joke ! He lived in all about two 

 years, during which time his food was a very few worms, at 

 very uncertain times ; perhaps he did not get fifty alto- 

 gether. I presume some person, presuming to poach in 

 his pond, was pinched by him, and plucked him forth, 

 and so falling, he came by his death." 



Mr. Ball adds elsewhere, " The water was never 

 changed, but some was occasionally added to supply 

 the loss by evaporation." The truth is, that many Crus- 

 tacea will live in the atmosphere, as long as they have 

 access to water in which to bathe their branchiae, and 

 thus preserve them in a moist and respirable condition ; 

 but die from asphyxia when confined beneath a small 

 quantity of water, from which the air is soon exhausted. 



