350 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Annual operation of casting their shells. 



of the other are always serrated. With the for- 

 mer it keeps firm hold of the stalks of submarine 

 plants, and with the latter it cuts and minces its 

 food very dexterously. The knobbed, or numb 

 claw, as the fishermen call it, is sometimes on 

 the right, and sometimes on the left side indiffer- 

 ently. It is more dangerous to be seized by 

 them wtith the cutting claw than the other ; but, 

 in either case, the quickest way to get disengaged 

 from the creature is to pull off its claw. 



Like the rest of their tribe, they annually cast 

 their shells. Previously to their putting off the 

 old one, they appear sick, languid, and restless. 

 They acquire an entirely new covering in a few 

 days; but during the time that they remain de- 

 fenceless they seek some lonely place, lest they 

 should be attacked and devoured by such of their 

 brethren as are not in the same weak situation. 

 At the same time that they cast their shell they 

 change also their stomach and intestines. 



In casting their shells, it is difficult to con^ 

 ceive how the lobsters are able to draw the fish 

 of their large claws out, leaving the shells of 

 these entire, and attached to the shell of their 

 bodv, in which state they are constantly found. 

 The fishermen say that, previously to the opera- 

 tion, the lobster pines away till the fish in its 

 large claw is no thicker than the quill of a goose, 

 which enables it to draw its parts through the 

 joints and narrow passage near the trunk. The 

 pew shell is membranaceons at first, but it 



