THE FOOD OF THE CRAYFISH. 9 
which a stream haunted by crayfishes runs, is soft 
and peaty, the crayfishes work their way into it in all 
directions, and thousands of them, of all sizes, may be 
dug out, even at a considerable distance from the banks. 
It does not appear that crayfishes fall into a state of 
torpor in the winter, and thus “hybernate”’ in the strict 
sense of the word. At any rate, so long as the weather 
is open, the crayfish lies at the mouth of his burrow, 
barring the entrance with his great claws, and with pro- 
truded feelers keeps careful watch on the passers-by. 
Larve of insects, water-snails, tadpoles, or frogs, which 
come within reach, are suddenly seized and devoured, 
and it is averred that the water-rat is liable to the same 
fate. Passing too near the fatal den, possibly in search 
of a stray crayfish, whose flavour he highly appreciates, 
the vole is himself seized and held till he is suffocated, 
when his captor easily reverses the conditions of the auti- 
cipated meal. E 
In fact, few things in the way of food are amiss to 
the crayfish ; living or dead, fresh or carrion, animal or 
vegetable, it is all one. Calcareous plants, such as the 
stoneworts (Chara), are highly acceptable; so are any kinds 
of succulent roots, such as carrots; and it is said that 
crayfish sometimes make short excursions inland, in 
search of vegetable food. Snails are devoured, shells 
and all; the cast coats of other crayfish are turned to 
account as supplies of needful calcareous matter; and 
the unprotected or weakly member of the family is 
