LETEER LVII1. 



1 



stance, but rather resembling a strong crult, while 

 that of the latter is of a bony hardness. 



Of this kind of animals, the lobster and thecrab ar 

 the most generally known, and of the grcates] utility 

 to man, to whom they furnish an excellent aticle of 

 food, wholesome and nutritious. 



THE LOBSTER AND THE CRAB \ 



being so frequently seen in our markets, itw^uldbe 

 useless to describe their form, and, indeed, nolverbal 

 description could exhibit an accurate representation 

 of either. Nothing but the sight of the anima could 

 give a just idea>of so singular a conformation. I 



Although the lobster and the crab are exceedingly 

 'different in figure, their propensities and habit have 

 a great similarity; both kinds annually cast! their 

 shells. After losing the old shell, and before 4 new 

 one is formed, the animal is in a very uncomfortable 

 and dangerous situation, exposed to the dogfish, and 

 a multitude of other depredators. In this distressful 

 situation, however, they do not continue long, for the 

 new covering is formed, and completely hardened in 

 little more than forty-eight hours. These creatures 

 are extremely fierce and voracious; but it is a singu- 

 lar circumstance in their nature, that when they 

 chance to lose a limb in their frequent combats, it is 

 completely renewed in the course of about three 

 weeks. 



THE LAND CRAB 



is a very singular animal: it is found in some of the 

 warmer countries of Europe, and abounds in the tro- 

 pical climates. This animal comprises a variety of 

 species, some of which are excellent food, while" 

 others are unpalatable, and even poisonous. Some 

 are -. foot in -breadth, and others not above an inch. 

 They admit also of great variety in their colours; but 

 the violet crab of the Caribbee islands has obtained 

 the pre-eminence over the whole tribe. 



This animal somewhat resembles two bands cut 

 through the middle and joined together; for each 

 aide has the appearance of four fingers, and the two 

 ciavvs or nippers resemble the thumbs. All the rest 



