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S82 NATURAL HISTORY. [cH. XXI. 



It would be out of place in a work like the present 

 to enter at length into those physiological peculiari- 

 ties which distinguish the classes Crustacea, Arach- 

 nida, and insects. We shall therefore proceed to lay 

 before our readers the natural history of several of 

 the more interesting species belonging to the first- 

 mentioned class. 



The Lobster {Astacus gammarus, Cancer gamma- 

 rus, Linn.), first claims our attention. This species 

 is specifically distinguished by the produced spine 

 of the front of the shell having three teeth in each 

 side, with a double tooth at the base. The antennae 

 are very long, and the claws large, by which it is 

 easily distinguished from the spiny lobster {Palinu- 

 rus quadricornis, Fab.), in which the forelegs do not 

 exceed the following in size. The lobster inhabits 

 all the rocky shores of England, but chiefly where 

 there is a depth of water. They are brought in vast 

 quantities from the Orkney Islands, and many parts 

 of the eastern coast of Scotland, to the London 

 markets. Sixty or seventy thousand are annually 

 brought from the neighbourhood of Montrose alone. 

 It is, however, from the coast of Norway that the 

 London market is chiefly supplied. The lobster 

 was well known to the ancients, being found as far 

 as the Hellespont. It is well described by Aristotle, 

 and is called at Constantinople hczuda and licpuda. 

 The habitation of this species is in the clearest wa- 

 ter, at the foot of rocks which impend over the sea. 

 The mode of capturing the lobster is in pots, a sort 

 of trap formed of wicker-work, and baited with dead 

 animal matter, upon which they feed, as well as, it 

 is said, upon the weeds ; the pots are formed in the 

 shape of a wire mousetrap, so that when the lobster 

 gets in there is no return ; they are fastened to a 

 cord sunk in the sea, and their place marked by a 

 buoy. They begin to breed during the spring, and 

 continue breeding through the summer months. 

 They are extremely prolific, Dr. Baxter having 



