THE LOBSTER. 513 



away, till the fish, in its large claw, is no thicker 

 than the quill of a goose, which enables it to draw 

 its parts through the joints and narrow passage 

 near the trunk. The new shell is membranaceous 

 at first, but it hardens by degrees. Lobsters only 

 grow in size while their shells are in their soft state. 



In the water these animals are able to run nimbly 

 upon their legs or small claws, and if alarmed they 

 can spring, tail foremost, to a surprising distance, 

 almost as swiftly as a bird can fly. The fishermen 

 can see them pass about thirty feet, and, by the 

 swiftness of their motion, it is supposed that they 

 may go much farther. When frightened, they will 

 spring from a considerable distance to their hold in 

 the rock ; and, what is not less surprising than true, 

 will throw themselves into their hold in that man- 

 ner, through an entrance barely sufficient for their 

 bodies to pass ; as is frequently seen by the people 

 who endeavour to catch them at Filey Bridge, near 

 Scarborough. 



The circumstance of Lobsters losing their claws 

 at thunder-claps, or on the sound of cannon, is well 

 authenticated ; and the fishermen are often jestingly 

 threatened with a salute by the sailors. The resto- 

 ration of claws thus lost may always be observed ; 

 for these never again grow to their former size. 

 When the claws of Lobsters become inconvenient, 

 from being by any means injured, they always break 

 them off*. f 



Lobsters are caught in such plenty on the coast 



* Ptnn. Brit. Zool. vol. iv, p. 9. 

 VOL, III. LI 



