LOBSTER. 243 



sides ; the surface slightly punctated : a furrow separates 

 the gastric from the posterior regions. The rostrum pro- 

 jects forwards as far as the peduncle of the external 

 antennae ; it terminates in a strong point, and has about 

 four teeth on each side, diminishing in size backwards. 

 There is a small tooth on each side, just behind the base 

 of the rostrum. External antennae with the peduncle 

 nearly cylindrical ; its base armed with a strong tooth. 

 Eyes globular, smaller than the peduncle. Abdomen semi- 

 cylindrical. The segments smooth, terminating on each 

 side in a strong flattened triangular plate. The tail 

 broad ; the external lamina strongly divided at its anterior 

 third ; the margin of its posterior portion closely dentated : 

 two strong teeth at the common peduncle of the two 

 outer laminae. Anterior legs very large, unequal, the 

 larger one furnished with very strong tubercles on the 

 prehensile edge of the fingers, which is irregular ; the 

 smaller one with the edge of the fingers straight, and hav- 

 ing numerous small teeth ; the hands with the inner 

 margin furnished with strong white teeth ; and the wrist 

 with a few similar ones. The remaining legs filiform 

 and weak ; the second and third pairs didactyle, the 

 fourth and fifth monodactyle. 



General colour dull pale reddish-yellow, spotted with 

 bluish-black ; the spots coalescent on the upper parts. 



The esteem in which this species is universally held 

 as a delicate article of food, and the multitudes which 

 are annually taken and brought to our markets, render 

 it perhaps the most interesting and important of the 

 whole class, in a commercial point of view. Lobsters 

 are taken on various parts of our coast, particularly on 

 rocky shores. From the southern and western coast of 

 England a considerable number are constantly sent off 



R 2 



