Class V. ASTACUS. LOBSTER. 17 



of October till the beginning of May. Many 

 of the small ones, and some few of the larger 

 sort, are good all the summer. If they be four 

 inches and a half long or upwards, from the 

 tip of the head to the end of the back shell, 

 they are called sizeable Lobsters. If only 

 four inches, they are esteemed half size ; and 

 when sold, two of them are reckoned for one 

 of size. If they be under four inches, they 

 are called pawks, and are not saleable to the 

 carriers, though, in reality, they are in the 

 summer months superior to the large ones in 

 goodness. The pincers of one of the lobster's 

 large claws are furnished with knobs, and those 

 of the other claw are always serrated. With 

 the former it keeps firm hold of the stalks of 

 submarine plants, and with the latter it cuts 

 and minces its food very dextrously. The 

 knobbed or numb claw, as the fishermen call 

 it, is sometimes on the right and sometimes 

 on the left, indifferently. It is more danger- 

 ous to be seized by them with the cutting 

 claw than the other; but in either case, the 

 quickest way to get disengaged from the crea- 

 ture is to pluck off its claw. It seems pecu- 

 liar to the Lobster and Crab, when their claws 

 are pulled off, that they will grow again, but 

 never so large as at first. 

 VOL. iv. c 



