of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 97 
Peculiar Action of a Group of Lobsters. 
On October 29th the four female lobsters which cast during the 
summer were very restless. They were walking about in the tank, or 
standing, as it were, on tip-toes, and having the abdomen bent, with the 
edge ot the telson close up against the fifth pereiopod. Occasionally they 
extended the abdomen and moved the swimmerets backwards and forwards. 
The male lobster which is with them was also out of his hole, standing on 
tip-toes, with the abdomen extended straight out and moving his 
swimmerets actively. The lobsters appeared to be quite friendly, and 
did not attempt to bite one another. The supply of water running into 
the tank was not very large at this time. Whether this had in any way 
influenced the action of the lobsters is an open question. It had not 
been observed before. 
THE SENSES OF THE LOBSTER. 
The lobster when it walks has the telson turned in on the abdomen, 
and it marches on the “ points of its toes,” backwards as well as forwards. 
It is practically blind; it sees nothing properly, at least that is the 
case where it is exposed to the comparatively strong light which 
during the day illumines the tanks in the Laboratory. It has 
simply the sensation of light and shadow. It tests a shadow 
with its antenne, or sometimes where a strong shadow is thrown 
on it, it jumps at it with its chele outstretched and snapping. It 
is dependent on its antenne for guiding it in safe places. It is 
especially careful in testing any hole before it is satisfied with it. It 
discovers the cavity by means of its antenna, which is waved well out 
to the side and in front as it walks. It searches the innermost depths 
of the hole with the antenna, and then inserts its chela. If the examina- 
tion with the chela is also satisfactury, it immediately turns and backs 
smartly into the hole. In feeding it is guided to the food by the 
antennules. A piece of food which is dropped near a lobster may fall 
quite unnoticed unless it happens to touch the antenna or the pereiopods. 
tis not seen at all. But sooner or later, according as the distance is 
short or great, the scent of the food, carried by the currents set up by the 
exopodites of the maxillipedes, reaches the lobster. The lobster is 
immediately excited, although previously it was lying quite inert in its 
hole. It whips the water with its antennules in a staccato fashion, and 
feels about with the antennz and chele ; at first without leaving its hole. 
At once both antennules are seen to be whipping in the direction in 
which the food is lying, and an active search is made with the antenne. 
If they do not succeed in locating the bait, the lobster rather reluctantly 
leaves its hole, but cautiously, feeling all round about with its antenne. 
It goes off straight in the direction in which the food is lying, and if it misses 
it with its antenne and chele, walks over it and gets it with its chelate 
pereiopods; it usually picks up its food with the second pereiopod. 
Meanwhile the expected feast has by association stimulated the maxilli- 
pedes, which are actively working as if they were already masticating the 
food. Once the food is seized it is conveyed to the maxillipedes, and the 
lobster retreats to its hole, there to enjoy its meal. Two lobsters were 
noticed to have stored up in one case some mussels, in the other a dead 
sand-eel (Ammodytes tobianus), in the inner recesses of their caves. 
Errect of CoLtp on LOoBsTERs. 
In the winter the lobsters kept in the tanks of the Laboratory became 
very sluggish, and ate very little if any food. When taken out of the 
water and exposed to the frosty air they become very inert. 
