THE COMMON LOBSTER. 353 



Agility Claws lost by sudden noise. 



that they may go much farther. When fright- 

 ened, they will spring from a considerable dis- 

 tance to their hold in the rock ; and, what is not 

 less surprising than true, will throw themselves 

 into their hold in that manner, through an en- 

 trance barely sufficient for their bodies to pass, 

 as is frequently seen by the people who endea- 

 vor to catch them at Filey Bridge, near Scarbo- 

 rough. 



At thunder claps, or on the sound of cannon, 

 lobsters absolutely lose their claws, and the fish- 

 ermen are often jestingly threatened with a salute 

 by the sailors. The restoration of claws thus lost 

 may always be observed, for these never again 

 grow to their former size. When the claws of 

 lobsters become inconvenient from being by any 

 mean injured, they always break them off. 



However different in figure the lobster and 

 crab may seem, their manners and conformation 

 are nearly the same. Though devoid of red blood 

 circulating through their veins, or any warmth 

 in their bodies, they possess all the voracity of 

 the finny tribe, and whatever they seize upon, 

 that has life, is sure to perish, though ever so 

 well defended ; they even devour each other, 

 and in some measure may be said to feed upon 

 themselves, as the old stomach which they cast 

 upon changing their shell is generally the first 

 morsel that serves to glut the new. 



As soon as the offspring of these creatures 

 leave their parents, they immediately seek for 



VOL. V. NO. 38. 2 Y 



