ORDER CRUSTACEA HOMOBRANCHI^. 131 



with the other. Their movements in the water are ex- 

 ceedingly graceful and lively, and they are capable of 

 darting forward to a considerable distance with the 

 rapidity of the flight of a bird. Their colour, when in 

 their native element, is not black as might be ima- 

 gined, but a beautiful deep blue. 



A whimsical idea of the horror Lobsters are said to 

 have of pigs, seems to have prevailed in some parts of the 

 Continent. It is said that in Brandenburgh, where the 

 fishery is very abundant, the wagoners who transport 

 them by land are obliged to keep watch during the 

 night, to prevent swine from passing the wagon, for if 

 one only was to go by, they say, not a single Lobtster 

 would be alive in the morning ! 



The River Cr\y-Fish, (Potamobius Jliiviatilis.) 



The fresh-water Cray-fish very much resembles the 

 lobster in appearance, but is considerably broader in its 

 proportions. It is commonly found in the tributary 

 streams of large rivers, inhabiting the banks, in which 

 it burrows, and feeding on any animal substance that 

 may happen to come in its way. 



The Cray-fish is taken in various ways, sometimes by 

 the hand, which is thrust into the holes in which they 

 burrow. Another method is thus described : — 



Procure a dozen little rods, about five feet in length, and 

 the thickness of the thumb, — split them at the smallest 

 end, and by way of bait, place a frog, or a piece of putrid 

 llesh in the cleft ; take then the rods by their thickest end, 

 and hold the bait at the entrance of the little holes where 

 you suspect your prey to be ; if they are theie, they will 

 generally come out to seize the bait. As soon as you 



