FISHES. 205 
and is occasionally upwards of six feet in length, 
and five or six hundred pounds in weight. 
92. Dampier mentions one so large that a son of 
Captain Roch, a boy of ten years of age, sailed in its 
shell from the shore to his father’s ship. 
93. This kind of Turtle browses on grass, sea- 
weed, and other plants which grow on the shoals 
and sand banks. It is usually caught by turning it 
on its back, while it is asleep. The female breeds 
about the month of April, and lays about a hundred 
eggs, which she covers with sand. 
THE LOBSTER. 
94. This inhabitant of the sea is distinguished 
by its claws, the pincers of one of which are fur- 
nished with knobs, and those of the other are ser- 
rated 
95. They annually cast off their shells. Previ- 
ously to their putting off the old one, they appear 
sick, languid, and restless. They acquire an entirely 
new covering in a few days. 
96. These animals are found in the summer sea- 
son, in great abundance, on our rocky coasts. They 
How great is its size 1 What does it feed upon ? 
How is the Lobster distinguished 1 Where are they found in 
abundance ? 
18 
