THE LOBSTER. 



127 



some original tactics in the science of war. When he 

 is taken prisoner, that is, seized by one of his claws, he 

 quietly leaves the claw in the hands of his astonished 

 captor and beats his retreat as fast as possible. Thus 

 does he surrender his sword without giving up his per- 

 son. He has another odd way of laying down his arms 

 when he is frightened by a great noise, such as thunder, 

 or the firing of a cannon. It is no uncommon thing to 

 find a number of these broken swords lying about 

 among the rocks, showing where there has been a lob- 

 ster fright or fight. Perhaps our hero would not be 

 so ready to drop his sword and run if he were not sure 

 of getting another. As soon as one claw goes another 

 takes its place, but it is some time before the new one 

 gets as long and strong as the old one ; so you may see 

 all sorts of disabled soldiers in the lobster army, some 

 with no arms, some with one, and others with one arm 

 shorter than the other. You will notice quite a differ- 

 ence between the two large claws, or forceps. In one 

 the teeth are large and blunt, and in the other they are 

 very sharp (Figs. Ill, 112). It seems that they are not 

 made for the same use. The blunt-toothed pincers the 

 lobster uses as an anchor to moor himself, while with 

 the other he attacks and seizes his prey. - So much for 

 the great claws, or chelae. The next three front pair 

 are called maxillipedes, or foot-jaws (Fig. 109), because 



