THE CRAY-FISH AND THE SHRIMP. 659 



raal, quarrelling on the slightest pretext, and fighting most furiously. 

 In these combats it mostly loses a claw or a leg, being obliged to dis- 

 card entirely a wounded member. A fresh leg or claw sprouts from 

 the scar, and it is to this circumstance that the frequently unequal size 

 of lobster-claws is owing. Lobsters, indeed, part with these valuable 

 members with strange indifference, and will sometimes shake them off 

 on hearing a sudden noise. 



If the fishermen find that they have wounded a Lobster, they have 

 recourse to a very strange but perfectly efficacious remedy. Supposing 

 one of the claws to be wounded, the creature would soon bleed to death 

 unless some means were taken whereby the flow of blood may be 

 stopped^ The method adopted by the fishermen consists in twisting 

 off the entire claw. A membrane immediately forms over the wound, 

 and the bleeding is stopped. The new limb that is to supply the place 

 of that which was lost always sprouts from the centre of the scar. 



The common Cray-fish, or Craw-fish, of our rivers has an almost 

 exact resemblance to the marine lobster, which it resembles in many of 

 its habits and qualities. Like that crea- 

 ture, it hides itself in some crevice, and 

 does not issue from its concealment ex- 

 cept for the purpose of obtaining food. 

 It is equally quarrelsome, and also dis- 

 plays many tokens of its combats in the 

 shape of lost or minute members. It is 

 quite a rare thing to find a large Cray-fish The Cray-fish {Astacus jiuvi- 

 with both its claws of the same size. °^'^)- 



The creature mostly hides under stones or holes in the bank, with its 

 head toward the orifice and its claws thoroughly protecting its home. 

 From these dens it issues in search of prey, which consists of dead fish 

 and any similar substance. 



The flesh of the Cray-fish is something like that of the lobster, but 

 far more delicate, and without the indigestible qualities of the larger 

 crustacean. It is only in season for a comparatively short time, and in 

 other months of the year the flesh is soft, watery, and flavorless. 



The next family includes the true Shrimps, and contains but one 

 genus. The Shrimp, which is so familiar on our tables, and which, 

 until the marine aquaria became so common, was equally unknown in, 

 its living state, inhabits our shores, where it is produced in countless 

 myriads. In every little pool that is left by the retiring tide the 

 Shrimps may be seen in profusion, betraying their presence by their 

 quick darting movements as they dash about in the water, and ever 

 and anon settle upon some spot, flinging up a cloud of sand as they 

 scuffle below its surface, their backs being just level with the surround- 

 ing sand. In consequence of this manoeuvre the fishermen call them 



