MOULTIXG OF THE LOBSTER. 



lotisteiB, and keep them in excellent condition for six 

 weelvs. 



There are various modes of catching lobsters ; but 

 on our coasts tlie most successful is by means of cone- 

 shaped traps of wicker-work, wliich are baited with 

 garbage, and sunk among the rocks at suitable locali- 

 ties, their whereabouts being indicated by buoys. 



There can be little doubt but that the lobster changes 

 its shell annually, though the modus operandi remains 

 Bomewliat of a problem to naturalists. Previous to 

 this moulling process it is observed to be languid, 

 sick, and restless ; to desist from its industrious explo- 

 ration of the sand or eager hunting after its prey, 

 and to lie in a half-torpid condition, as if stricken with 

 the consciousness of some impending catastrophe. In 

 about three or four days they acquire the new shell ; 

 but prior to this re-arming they are necessarily defence- 

 less, and fall a prey to many kinds of fish, as well as to 

 those of their own species which do not happen to be 

 in the same condition. Myriads must be destroyed 

 }-earIy during the moulting period. 



How they withdraw the muscles of their claws fi om 

 their calcareous covering is, after all, the greatest diffi- 

 culty to be solved. Fishermen and others assert, bow- 

 ever, that the animal, while pining, shrinks to such an 

 extent that each contracted limb is easily retired through 

 the joints and nari'ow passages near the body. All the 

 Crustacea increase in size only whilst in a soft state ; 

 and on comparing the dimensions of the new shell with 

 those of the old, the former is frequently found to be 

 one third larger ; a considerable augmentation to take 

 place in three or four days, and inexplicable on any 

 known principle of animal growth. 



No fact is better authenticated in natural history than 

 that lobsters will shed their claws during a thunder- 

 storm or the discharge of heavy artillerj', owing to 

 their extreme sensibility to any shocks experienced by 

 the medium in which they live. The restoration of 

 claws which have been lost in this manner, or in any 

 of the frequent contests which take place between hos- 

 tile Crustaceans — contests which usually terminate in 

 the victor carrying off one of the vanquished's limbs — 

 may easily be determined, as the new limb seldom if 

 ever attains the dimensions of its predecessors. 



The motions of the lobster in its " native element " 

 are very rapid ; and on any sudden alarm it will spring 

 to a distance which would 8uri)riso an aquatic Leotard. 

 It retreats among the rocks when closely pursued, and 

 gains an asylum with remarkable dexterity, forcing 

 itself through dr-files and into holes which seem scarcely 

 capable of admitting its body. It begins to breed in the 

 spring, and continues breeding for the greater part of 

 the summer. During the warm mcmths of July and 

 August the visitor to the sea-side, if he clambers at low 

 water over the weedy rocks, will find the young swim- 

 ming in great numbers in the translucent little pools 

 left by the receding tide. 



The ovary, or place where the spawa is first pro- 

 duced, is situated backward towards the tail, where a 

 red substance — much esteemed by the epicure — is 

 always found, composed of a number of minute spawn, 

 too small for exclusion. From this receptacle diverge 

 two canals, opening on each side of the junctures of the 



shells, towards the belly; and it is through these ducts 

 the small round penticles — which, if formed by nature, 

 will hereafter develop into lobsters — descend to be 

 extruded, and arranged under the tail. The larger 

 lobsters, according to Mr. Pennant, are in their beat 

 season from the middle of October to the beginning of 

 May. Many of the smaller ones, and some few of the 

 larger individuals, are good all the summer. If they 

 are four and a half inches long from the top of the 

 head to the end of the back shell, they are called 

 sizeable lobsters ; if under four inches they are esteemeil 

 half-size, and two of these are reckoned for one of size. 

 Under four inches they are called Pawks, and these are 

 the best summer lobsters. The pincers of one of the 

 lobster's large claws are furnished with knob.s, while 

 the other claw is always sei rated. With the former it 

 grasps firmly the stalks of submaiine plants; with the 

 latter it cuts and masticates its food very dexterously. 

 The knobbed, or thumb claw, as the fishermen call it, 

 is sometimes on the left, sometimes on the right sidi- ; 

 and it is more dangerous to be seized by the serrated 

 claw than b}' the other. In fact, it often inflicts very 

 severe and painful wounds. 



The Lobster {Homarvs) has spherical eyes, and two 

 rings of the thorax are soldered together. lu the Cray- 

 fish {Astacus) the last ring of the thorax is movable. 



One of the finest lobsters of the Macrouran family is 

 the Norwegian (^Nephrops Norvegictis). Both rings of 

 its thorax are movable. Its general tint is a pale flesh 

 colour, with darker shades in parts; its pubescence is 

 a light brown. Though generally considered a north- 

 ern species, it has occasionally been found in the Medi- 

 terranean. It is imported into England from the Scottish 

 coast, the Bay of Dublin, and the Norwegian fiords, 

 where it literally abounds ; and, on account of the supe- 

 rior delicacy of its flesh, it is held in high esteem. Its 

 eyes are kidney-shaped ; not round, as in the Common 

 Lobster. 



The Common Lobster {Ilomariis vulgaris) is found 

 everywhere on the rocky coasts of Great Britain, and 

 in similar localities throughout the European water.s. 

 It frequently attains to an enormous size, weighing 

 twelve and fourteen pounds, when loaded with spawn. 



The American Lobster {Homariis Americanus) is 

 distinguished by the largeness of its claws, in compa- 

 rison with those of the Common Lobster. 



The Spiny Lobster, or Sep. Cray-fish {Paliminis 

 vidyaris), is occasionally found on the rocky coasts of 

 Britain, e.specially in the English Channel, atid in some 

 parts of Devonshire. It is supposed to bo the Karahos 

 of the Greeks, and the Locusla of the Romans. It 

 attains a length of about eighteen inches. Its shell is 

 of extreme hardness, and its entire body bristles, like 

 that of a hedgehog, with short sharp spines. The an- 

 tenna; far exceed in length those of the Common Lob- 

 ster. There are no claws or pincers, the first pair of 

 feet closely resembling the others. It is sometimes 

 brought to market, but is so inferior in flavour to its 

 congeners as to be very little in request. 



The Spiny Lobster (^Palinurus vulgaris) the Cray- 

 fish {Astacus Jluviaiilis), the Slirimp {Crangon vul- 

 garis), and the Prawn [Paliemon serratus), &c., are 

 all well known and valuable members of this section. 



