352 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Of the ova when deposited. 



extremely black; but they come in succession 

 almost as large as ripe elder-berries before they 

 are deposited, and turn of a dark brown color, 

 especially towards the end of the time of her de- 

 positing them. They continue full, and deposit- 

 ing the ova in constant succession, as long as 

 any of that black substance can be found in 

 their body, which, when boiled, turns of a beau- 

 tiful red color, and is called their coral. Hen- 

 lobsters are found in berry at all times of the 

 year, but chiefly in winter. It is a common 

 mistake, that a berried hen is always in perfec- 

 tion for the table : when her berries appear large 

 and brownish, she will always be found exhaust- 

 ed, watery, and poor. Though the ova be cast 

 at all times of the year, they seem only to come 

 to life during the warm summer months of July 

 and August. Great numbers of them may then 

 be found, under the appearance of tad-poles, 

 swimming about the little pools left by the tide 

 among the rocks, and many also under their 

 proper form from half an inch to four inches in 

 length. 



Lobsters, like some of the crabs, are said to 

 be attached to particular parts of the sea. They 

 are able to run nimbly upon their legs or small 

 claws in the water, and if alarmed they can 

 spring, tail foremost, to a surprising distance, 

 almost as swiftly as a bird can fly. The fisher- 

 men can see them pass about thirty feet, and, 

 by the swiftness of their motion, it is supposed 



