288 ARTICULATA. CRUSTACEA. 



It is baited in the bottom with fish offal. In the 

 day-time none are taken, except the water be thick ; 

 nor in those nights when the sea is luminous. In 

 the water they run nimbly on their legs ; but if 

 alarmed they spring, tail foremost, to a surprising 

 distance, as swiftly as a bird can fly. The fisher- 

 men can see them pass about thirty feet, and by 

 the swiftness of their motion suppose them to go 

 much farther. When frightened, they spring to 

 their retreats in the rocks ; and, what is surprising, 

 will throw themselves into their hold in that manner 

 through an entrance barely sufficient for their bodies 

 to pass. Their ordinary weight is from one to two 

 pounds, but they have been known to weigh six 

 pounds. Any violent shock to the nervous system 

 will cause the Lobster to throw off its claws ; this 

 will frequently happen when plunged into hot water, 

 or into spirits. " Lobsters," says Pennant, et fear 

 thunder, and are apt to cast their claws on a loud 

 clap. I am told they will do the same on the firing 

 of a great gun ; and that when men-of-war meet 

 a Lobster boat, a jocular threat is used, that, if the 

 master do not sell them good Lobsters, they will fire 

 him a salute." Old individuals are sometimes half a 

 yard in length. The Lobster is found in the Medi- 

 terranean, as well as on the Atlantic shores of Eu- 

 rope ; it also frequents the eastern coasts of North 

 America. A vast number are taken on our own 

 shores, but the main supply of the London market 

 is drawn from the deep rocky inlets of Norway. 

 The Cray-fish or Craw -fish (A. Flumatilis] confines 



