10 LOBSTERS. Class. V. 



war meet a lobfter-boat, a jocular threat is ufed, 

 That, if the matter does not fell them good lob- 

 fters, they will faluie him. 



The habitation of this fpecies is in the cleared 

 water -, at the foot of rocks that impend over the 

 fea. This has given opportunity of examining 

 more clofely into the natural hiftory of the animal, 

 than many others who live in an element that prohi- 

 bits moil of the human refearches, and limits the 

 inquiries of the mod inquifitive. Lobflers are 

 found on moft of the rocky ccafls of Great Britain, 

 Some are taken by the hand -, but the greater 

 quantity in pots, a fort of trap formed of twigs, 

 and baited with garbage ; they are formed like a 

 wire moufe-trap, fo that when the lobfler gets in, 

 there is no return. Thefe are fattened to a cord 

 funk into the fea, and their place marked by a 

 buoy. 



They begin to breed in the fpring, and continue 

 breeding moft part of the fummer. They pro- 

 pagate more humano j and are extremely prolific. 

 Doctor B after fays he counted 12,444 eggs under 

 the tail, befides thofe that remained in the body, 

 unprotruded. They depofit thefe eggs in the 

 fand, where they are loon hatched. 



Lobflers change their cruft annually. Previous 

 to their putting off their old one, they appear fick, 

 languid, and reftlefs. They totally acquire a new 

 coat in a few days ; but during the time that 

 they remain defenceids they feek ibme very lonely 



place, 



