THE CRAB, 



fubftance, each particle of which is the embryo of a fu- 

 ture animal. When they are firll excluded from the 

 belly, they are placed under the tail, where the parent 

 animal protects them from danger, till they acquire limbs 

 and animation. In that ftate, they drop off into the wa- 

 ter, when yet very fmall, and betake themfelves to the 

 crevice of a rock for fhelter, till they are enabled by 

 greater llrength to fearch for their prey. When full 

 grown, their voracity is fo mercilefs and indifcriminate, 

 that they mutually devour each other. 



The lobfters, like all other infedls, poffefs antenna, 

 and like thefe animals change their external covering 

 once a-year : To them, this is a painful and tedious ope- 

 ration. The lobller continues growing, while its crufl 

 continues unalterably the fame : hence it foon becomes 

 too large for its habitation, and is neceffitated to get free. 

 During their transformation, all their vigour and activi- 

 ty ceafes ; and they no fooner feel its approach, than 

 they betake themfelves to fome retired iituation, where 

 tliey may be fafe from the attacks of their enemies. The 

 claws, and even the flomacb, are faid to be changed in 

 this convullive effort of nature. Before carting the Ihell, 

 the animal throws itfelf upon its back, ftrikes its claws 

 againft each other, and every limb feems to tremble ; its 

 feelers are agitated, and its whole body is in violent mo- 

 tion. It then fwells itfelf in an unufual manner, and at 

 laft the fliell is feen beginning to divide at its junctures, 

 particularly at the belly, where it was leaft firmly unit- 

 ed f. 



4 C 2 1^- 



t Goldfmlth's Nat. Hift. Vol. VI. p. 363'^ 



