56 EVOLUTION OF MIND 



those characteristic of crabs. Thus one described as a 

 lady's pet in Paris e seems to recognise its mistress, and is 

 so fond of music that it is always drawn to the piano when- 

 ever she plays.' 1 Lobsters show affection for their young, 

 warning them of danger, both young and old seeking shelter 

 when peril is threatened or imminent. The old lobster, in 

 alarm from danger, rattles its claws (Peach). According to 

 Pennant, lobsters ' fear thunder, and are apt to cast their 

 claws on a great clap. I am told they will do the same thing 

 on firing a great gun.' That these are facts has been proved 

 by the testimony of many subsequent observers. One of 

 the latest, a writer in ' Land and Water,' says in regard to a 

 ' most extraordinary clap of thunder .... forty lobsters not 

 only shed their claws, but many of their lesser legs,' a cir- 

 cumstance that seems parallel to the casting of the limbs by 

 the Ophiuridce. Among the Annuloida sudden exposure to 

 light is stated by the same writer to have produced a similar 

 effect. A large number of lobsters having been kept alive 

 in a dark coal-cellar for three or four days, till required for 

 the table, ' immediately upon being exposed to the light shed 

 all their large claws.' In both cases we have a marked in- 

 stance of a physical result instantaneously brought about by a 

 startling impression on the senses of hearing in the one case, 

 of vision in the other. 



Among the Arachnida the intelligence, industry, inge- 

 nuity, perseverance, cunning, and other mental qualities of 

 spiders are well known. An Australian spider constructs a 

 door with bolts (Baden Powell). There are trap-door 

 spiders, that construct and make use of a self-acting hinge 

 to their door, which, as mere machinery, is superior to much 

 of man's (Baird and Moggridge). Our ordinary British and 

 other spiders devise means for overcoming difficulties, and 

 make repairs of their webs, temporary or permanent (Wat- 

 son). They must appreciate losses before making them 

 good ; they must estimate weakness before they strengthen 

 weak threads. They have a knowledge of mechanical strain ; 

 they vary the structure of their web with its position (Hou- 

 zeau). They even test the strength or security of their webs 

 1 'North British Daily Mail,' Feb. 8, 1875. 



