276 SEASIDE DIVINITY. 



lobster, which is only about six inches in length. 

 The snout is of a pyramidal form and spiny, and 

 the thorax, body, and tail, elegantly plaited ; the 

 claws long, spiny, and tuberculated. This species is 

 extremely active, and, when taken, slaps its tail 

 with much violence and noise. All these different 

 kinds are found in many parts of our rocky coasts 

 and are sometimes taken by the hand, sometimes 

 by means of traps or pots, and sometimes with 

 nets. 



The common lobster being the best known 

 example of the family to which it belongs a more 

 particular account of it will most gratify the 

 reader. 



The habitation of this species is the clearest 

 water at the base of rocks overhanging the sea. 

 Places of this description are frequent in many 

 parts of the coast. The western and northern 

 shores of Scotland abound in places where lobsters 

 are found in great numbers, many of which are of 

 great size. Various parts of the English coast, 

 and many localities on the shores of the sister 

 island, are frequented by this crustacean. 



Lobsters are extremely prolific; more than 

 12,000 eggs have been counted under the tail of 

 one hen lobster. They begin to breed in spring 

 and continue (Joing so the greater part of summer 

 depositing their ova in the sand where they are 

 hatched. 



In addition to the power of creeping along the 

 bottom, and rising gracefully over the sunken 

 rocks and the sea-weed, the lobster possesses the 



