784 CRUSTACEA—LOBSTER. 
of the old shel! being compared with those of the new, 1t will be found that 
the creature is increased above a third in its size; and, like a boy that has 
outgrown his clothes, it seems wonderful how the deserted shell was able to 
contain so great an animal as entirely fills up the new. 
The creature thus furnished, not only with a complete covering, but also 
a greater share of strength and courage, ventures more boldly among the 
animals at the bottom; and nota week passe’ that in its combats it does not 
suffer some mutilation. A joint, or even a whole claw, is sometimes snap- 
ped off in these encounters. At certain seasons of the year, these animals 
never meet each other without an engagement. In these, to come off wich 
the loss of a leg, or even a claw, is considered as no great calamity; the 
victor carries off the spoil to feast upon at his leisure, while the other reures 
from the defeat to wait for a thorough repair. This repair it is not long in 
procuring. From the place where the joint of the claw was cut away, 1s 
seen in a most surprising manner to bourgeon out the beginning of a new 
claw. This, if observed, at first, is small and tender, but grows in the space 
of three weeks, to be almost as large and as powerful as the old one. We say 
almost as large, for it never arrives to the full size; and this is the reason 
we generally find the claws of lobsters of unequal magnitude. 
Of this extraordinary, yet well-known animal, there are many varieties, 
with some differences in the claws, but little in the habits or conformation. It 
is found above three feet long; and, if we may admit the shrimp and the 
prawn into the class, though unfurnished with claws, it is seen not above an 
inch. These all live in the water, and can bear its absence but for a few 
hours. The shell is black when taken out of the water, but turns red by boil- 
ing. The most common way of taking the lobster is ina basket, or pot, as the 
fishermen call it, made of wicker work, in which they put the bait, and 
then throw it to the bottom of the sea, in six or ‘ten fathom water. The 
lobsters creep mto this for the sake of the bait, but are not able to get ow* 
again. 
