336 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



ornate bunches of hairs like on other parts of body almost ruby- 

 red. Soft skin covering under surface of abdomen and swim- 

 merets faint pink. Length four feet, with an average length of 

 about 375 mm. 



Remarks. — The lobster is distributed along the Atlantic shores 

 of North America from Labrador to Delaware, and ranges in 

 depths of from less than one to more than one hundred fathoms. 

 It is most abundant and reaches its maximum size within the 

 northern part of its range, or from Maine northward. De Kay 

 says that lobsters were taken in comparative small numbers 

 along the New Jersey coast, though two years after the Dela- 

 ware breakwater was built in Delaware Bay, lobsters made their 

 appearance there in great quantities. R. Rathbun says this 

 point may be considered the southern boundary of the species, 

 though several records are known from the region to the south. 

 Of these, lobsters are said to have been seen along the beach in 

 the surf near Indian River Inlet in Delaware, and two or three 

 have been recorded at Johnstown in the northeastern corner of 

 Virginia. Several have also been captured in North Carolina. 

 The depth of water which these animals inhabit is variable, 

 according to the season and the temperature of the water. They 

 sometimes occur in shallow water close in shore, and again are 

 stranded on the beach, sometimes in large numbers, after heavy 

 storms at sea. 



Herrick's summary of his extensive observations gives the 

 following information : 



The great diversity of the character of environment explains 

 in some measure the numerous variations in the habits of the 

 lobster, as time and frequency in moulting, egg-laying, hatching 

 the young and rate of growth. It displays a considerable degree 

 of intelligence and has organs to which the various senses of the 

 higher animals have been ascribed. The tactile sense is diffused 

 over the whole body. It has the sense of smell and of taste, 

 though the so-called auditory are doubtfully really ears. The 

 sea bottom is its natural habitat when adult, and it never leaves 

 this location or the water unless obliged. No coastwise migra- 

 tions are known, but numbers of lobsters move to and from deep 



