242 C R U S T A C E O U S FISHES. 



laft the fliell begins to divide at its jun6lures ; particularly at thofe of 

 the belly, before but feemingly united. It alfo feems turned infide out; 

 and its ftomach comes away with its fhell. After this, it difengages the 

 claws, which burft at the joints, with a tremulous motion calling them 

 off. Now, weak and enfeebled, it continues feveral hours motion- 

 lefs ; many die j all are in fuch a weakly ftate, that they neither take 

 food, nor venture from their retreats; they have not only the foftnefs, 

 but the timidity of a worm. The dog-fiih, the cod, and the ray, devour 

 them by hundreds. This defencelefs ftate continues but a fhort time : 

 in lefs than two days the fkin is grown almoft as hard as before j its ap- 

 petite increafes, and the firft obje6l of its gluttony is faid to be its late 

 ftomach. This it devours eagerly, and alfo its former ftiell. In about 

 forty-eight hours the new fliell is perfefled, and hard as the former which 

 •was but juft thrown afide. By its new ftiell is feen that it has grown in a 

 very few days above a third in fize. 



At certain feafons of the year, thefe animals never meet without en- 

 gagement. The lofs of a leg, or a claw, is no great calamity ; the vidor 

 carries off the fpoil to feaft on, while the vanquiftied retires from the de- 

 feat, to wait for a thorough repair. Where the joint of the claw was cut 

 away, is leen in a moft furprifing manner to burgeon out, the beginning 

 of a new claw j at firft fmall and tender, but in three weeks time almoft 

 as large and powerful as the old one : but it never arrives to the full 

 fize. 



Of this extraordinary yet well-known creature, are many varieties.. 

 Some three feet long, and (if the ftirimp and the prawn be of the clafs, 

 though unfurniflied with claws) others not above an inch. All live in the 

 water, and can bear its abfence for a few hours. The fliell is black when, 

 frefli, but turns red by boiling. 



The Lobfters creep into a baflcet of wicker-work, let into eight or tea 

 fathom water, for the bait, but cannot get out again. The river Cray- 

 fifli differs little from the Lobfter, but that it lives only in frefli water ; 

 the other only in the fea. 



The CRAB is found equally in frefli and fait water ; upon land as well 

 as in the ocean ^ its fliape differs much from the Lobfter, which it refem- 

 bles in habits and conformation. The tail is the broad flap that' covers, 

 part of the belly, and when lifted difcovers the fpawn in great abundance.. 

 its claws are twoj its legs eight, four on either fide. It is bold, and vo- 

 racious, and quarrelfome. It refembles the Lobfter, except in its amaz- 

 ing 



