LOB 
habitation ; and being imprifoned within the ciuf^ 
■which naturally encompafles it, a neceflity for it's 
emancipation foon comes on. It is generally fup- 
pofed, therefore, that the young of this kind, which 
grow quickeft, change their fnells oftener than the 
old; which, after they have attained their full 
growth, frequently continue in the fame habitations 
for two years together. In general, however, all 
thefe animals change their Ihells once in a year; 
and this operation is not only painful, but alfo ex- 
tremely dangerous. The feafon of undergoing 
this transformation is generally about the begin- 
ning of fummer; at which time their food is plen- 
tiful, and their ftrength and vigour are in their 
higheft perfe(5lion. But their aflivity foon ceafes ; 
they forfake the open parts of the deep, and feek 
for more retired fituations among the rocks, or 
certain outlets, v/here they may remain fecure 
from the attacks of their various and refolute ene- 
mies. For fome days previous to their change, 
they lofe their ufual voracity ; they no longer la- 
boriouily harrow up the fand at the bottom, or 
hunt for their prey ; but lie torpid and inotionlefs, 
as if in anxious expeftation of their approaching 
fate. Juft before they part with their exuvise, they 
throw themfelves on their backs, and ftrike their 
claws againft each other, while every limb feems 
to feel the concuflion ; their feelers are agitated ; 
and their whole bodies are in violent motion : they 
then inflate themfelves after an unufual manner; 
and at laft their fhells begin to divide at their junc- 
tures, burfting particularly at the joints of their 
bellies, where they were before but feemingly 
united. They alfo appear to be turned infide out; 
for their ftomachs come away with their fhells. 
After this, by the fame kind of procedure, they 
difengage themfelves from their claws, v.'hich open 
at the joints ; while the animals, with a tremulous 
motion, kick them off, and in a fliort time find 
themfelves at perfect liberty. 
After this transformation, thefe creatures becom^e 
fo weak and enfeebled, that they continue motion- 
lefs for feveral hours. Indeed, fo very violent and 
painful is the operation, that many of them die 
tinder it; and thofe v/hich furvive it, continue for 
jbme time in fuch a weak ftate, that they neither 
feed nor venture from their retreats. Immediately 
after this change, they contraft not only the foft- 
nefs, but the timidity of worms. Every inhabi- 
tant of the deep is then endowed with powers which 
they can neither oppofe nor efcape; and, during 
this interval of imbeciility, the dog-fifh, the cod, 
and the ray, devour them by hundreds. But this 
defencelefs flate is but of fhort continuance : the 
animals, in lefs than two days, are invefted with 
fT<:ins almoflc as hard as before ; their appetites re- 
turn ; and the firfl obje6ls that tempt their glut- 
tony are their own ftomachs, which they lately 
threw up °. thefe they devour v/ith great avidity ; 
and, fhortly after, even their former fhells. 
In order to the fpeedy growth of the fhell, it is 
by fome eonjeftured that the Lobfler is fupplied 
with a very extraordinary concretion within it's 
body, which is converted into the flielly fubflance : 
this is a chalky matter found in the lower part of 
the flomach of every Lobfler, improperly called 
Crab's eyes, but ufually fold under that appellation. 
About the time the Lobfter quits it's fhell, the 
teeth in it's flomach break thefe ftones to pieces, 
and the fluids contained therein difTolve them. 
.This fluid, which flill remains in the new flomach, 
is fuppofed to be replete with a petrifying quality 
LOB 
proper for the formation of a new fhell : howevefj^ 
the concreting power that firft formed thefe, Ihews 
a quality inherent in the animal to produce the 
fhell likewife. 
The Lobfler being compleatly equipped in it's 
new fhell, it immediately becomes apparent, oni 
comparing the dimenfions of the old fhell with 
thofe of the new, how much the animal has in- 
creafed in the fpace of a few days ; and this is fre- 
quently found to be nearly one-third of it's formcf 
fize: an amazing addition in fuch a fhort inter- 
val, and which cannot be explained on any knowa 
principle of animal vegetation. 
The creature, thus fiirnifhed, not only with a 
compleat covering, but alfo pofTefTed of a fuperior 
fhare of flrength and cunning, ventures among 
the other animals at the bottom of the ocean with 
a confiderable degree of courage and intrepidity; 
and a whole week feldom pafTes without it's un- 
dergoing fome mutilation in combating it's ene- 
mies : a joint, and fometimes a whole claw, is 
fnapped off in thefe encounters; and, at certain 
leafons of the year, thefe animals never meet: 
each other without engaging. In thefe contefls^i 
to come off with the lofs of a leg, or even a claw,, 
feems to be regarded only as a trifling calamity; 
the viftor carries off the fpoil, and feafls on it at 
his leifure; while the vanquifhed retires from the 
fcene of a£lion to wait for a perfeft reparation. 
Nor is this long in being accomplifhed j for, from 
the place whence the joint of the claw was re- 
moved, a new member foon protrudes itfelf in a 
very fingular manner: this claw, when infpefted 
at firfl, is but fmall and tender; but, in the fpace 
of three weeks, it becomes almoft as large and 
powerful as the old one: however, thefe members 
never match exadlly with each other after an acci- 
dent of this kind ; and hence we generally find the 
claws of Lobfters of unequal magnitudes. 
Having defcribed fome of the mofl ftriking pe- 
culiarities of this well-known but extraordinary 
animal, it may not perhaps be altogether ufelefs to 
refleft a little on the wonders it prefents to our 
imagination. A creature deftitute of internal 
bones, yet furnifhed with a ftomach capable of 
digefting the hardeft fubftances, the fhells of muf^ 
cles, oyfters, and even it's own fhell ; an animal ac- 
quiring a new fliell and a new flomach at inter- 
vals; furnifhed with the inflruments of generation 
double in both fexes, yet with an apparent incapa- 
city of uniting; without blood circulating through 
it's body, yet vigorous and aftive; and, laflly, ca- 
pable of reproducing it's amputated limbs, how- 
ever frequently removed ! Thefe are only a few 
of Nature's wonders, when fhe fports in the deep 
v/ithout a fpeclator, and without reflraint. 
There are feveral varieties of this creature ; with 
fome differences in the claws, the fize, and the 
places of refort; but few in the habits or confor- 
mations. It is found above three feet long; and, 
if we admit the fhrimp and the prawn into this 
clafs, though unfurnifhed with claws, it is fome- 
times not an inch in length. All the varieties live 
in the water like the common kind, and can en- 
dure feparation from it but a few hours. 
Lobflers inhabit all the rocky fhores of the Bri- 
tifh ifles, particularly thofe where there is a tole- 
rable depth of water: vaft quantities are brought 
from the Orknies, and the eaflern parts of Scot- 
land, to the London markets. They are faid to 
be fo afraid of thunder, as to be liable to caft their 
Claws on a loud clap. In fome places they are 
caught 
