Class V. LOBSTERS. *3 



c in their body, which, when boiled, turns of a 



* beautiful red color, and is called their coral 

 ■ Hen Lobfters are found in berry at all times of 



* the year, but chiefly in v/inter. It is a common 



< miftake, that a berried Hen is always in perfection 



* for the table. When her berries appear large 

 c and brownifh, me will always be found exhausted, 



* watery, and poor. Though the ova be call at 

 ' all times of the year, they feem only to come to 

 6 life during the warm fummer months of July and 

 c Auguft. Great numbers of them may then be 

 c found, under the appearance of tad-poles, fwim- 

 c ming about the little pools left by the tides among 

 c the rocks, and many alfo under their proper 



< form, from half an inch to four inches in length. 



c In calling their fhells, it is hard to conceive 

 c how the Lobfler is able to draw the filh of their 

 6 large claws out, leaving the fnells entire and 

 c attached to the fhell of their body; in which 

 c ftate they are conflantly found. The flihermen 

 '« fay the Lobfter pines before calling, till the fifh 

 t in its large claw is no thicker than the quill of a 

 ' goofe, which enables it to draw its parts through 

 1 the joints and narrow pafiage near the trunk. The 



* new (hell is quite membraneous at firft, but 

 c hardens by degrees. Lobllers only grow in fize 

 « while their fhells are in their foft ftate. They are 

 « chofen for the table, by their being heavy in 

 « proportion to their fize i and by the hardnefs of 



' their 



