1$ ASTACUS. LOBSTER. Class V. 



prolific. Doctor Baster says he counted 1 2,444 

 eggs under the tail, besides those that remained 

 in the body, unprotruded. They deposit these 

 eggs in the sand, where they are soon hatched. 



Lobsters change their crust annually. Pre- 

 vious to their putting off their old one, they 

 appear sick, languid, and restless. They totally 

 acquire a new coat in a few days ; but during 

 the time that they remain defenceless they seek 

 some very lonely place, for fear of being attack- 

 ed and devoured by such of their brethren that 

 are not in the same weak situation. 



It is also remarkable, that Lobsters and 

 Crabs will renew their claws, if by accident 

 they are torn off; and it is certain they will 

 grow again in a few weeks. 



They are very voracious animals, and feed 

 on sea- weeds, on garbage, and on all sorts of 

 dead bodies. 



In addition to this, I beg leave to give an ac- 

 curate account of the natural history of this 

 animal, communicated to me by the ingenious 

 Mr. Travis, surgeon, at Scarborough. 



1 Scarborough, 25th Oct. 1768. 

 ' SIR, 

 c We have vast numbers of fine Lobsters on 

 ' the rocks, near our coast. The large ones are 

 1 in general in their best season from the middle 



