Class V. ASTACUS. LOBSTER. 15 



well- boats, from the neighborhood of Montrose 

 alone.* 



Lobsters fear thunder ; and are apt to cast 

 their claws on a loud clap. I am told they 

 will do the same on firing a great gun ; and 

 that when men of war meet a lobster-boat, a 

 jocular threat is used, That, if the master 

 does not sell them good lobsters, they will 

 salute him. 



The habitation of this species is in the clears 

 est. water ; at the foot of rocks that impend 

 over the sea. This has given opportunity of 

 examining more closely into the natural history 

 of the animal, than of many others who live in 

 an element that prohibits most of the human 

 researches, and limits the inquiries of the most 

 inquisitive. Lobsters are found on most of the 

 rocky coasts of Great Britain. Some are 

 ' taken by the hand ; but the greater quantity in 

 pots, a sort of trap formed of twigs, and baited 

 with garbage; they are formed like a wire 

 mouse-trap, so that when the lobster gets in, 

 there is no return. These are fastened to a 

 cord sunk into the sea, and their place marked 

 by a buoy. 



They begin to breed in the spring, and con- 

 tinue breeding most part of the summer. They 

 propagate more humano ; and are extremely 



* Tour in Scotland, 1772. part ii. p. 146. 



