148 THE CRAY-FISH. 



found in almost all rivers, whether large or small, in the 

 more southern portion of the peninsula. 



They likewise include the Pride, or Sandpride (Lindl, 

 Sw. ; P. branchialis, Linn.) in their Fauna, but they give 

 us no information as to the whereabouts of this fish, farther 

 than saying it is met with in rivers and streams, and that it 

 spawns in April and May. 



The Cray-Fish (Krafta, Sw. ; Astacus fluviatilis, Fabr.), 

 which though belonging to crustaceee, may without much im- 

 propriety find a place here, was pretty plentiful with us, though 

 more so in the neighbouring brooks than in the Gotha or 

 Wenern. It is also common in most parts of Scandinavia. 



Formerly, however, when the eel, its reputed enemy, was 

 unknown in my part of Sweden, the cray-fish is represented 

 as having been much more abundant than at present ; and 

 that since the opening of the sluices at Trollhattan, and the 

 consequent invasion of the eel, the numbers of the cray-fish 

 have very sensibly diminished. 



It is said of the cray-fish, that started adrift anywhere on 

 dry land, instinct at once points out to it the direction of its 

 native element, towards which it at once makes its way, as if 

 steering by compass. 



It is also said of the cray-fish, that if placed in ponds, &c., 

 to which they are inimical, they will presently disappear alto- 

 gether, when the inference is, that they are either dead, or 

 have made good their escape ; but that if a careful search be 

 made, they will be found to have taken refuge in the top 

 of some tree or other in the vicinity ! The story seems 

 marvellous ; but I have heard veracious people tell it, and 

 if I mistake not, that they themselves were eye-witnesses 

 to the fact. 



