[ 42 ] 
Ihell j a very ftrange and furprizing phenomenon, 
but I am affuied it is faCt. 
If a crab receives a fmall wound in the very ex- 
tremity of the claw, he generally bleeds to death, 
or pines away by flow and infenflble leaking of the 
vital moifture. 
But if he receives any conflderable wound or hurt,, 
that gives him pain, he inflantly throws off the offend- 
ing member, and all is lafe (as I have obferved in a 
former account) and a new limb foon fucceeds to make 
it again perfect. The leg is always thrown off at the 
fame joint ; the blood is flopp’d by the membrane, 
that lines that articulation, contracting itfelf in the 
form of a purfe. 
If a crab be brought near the fire, he throws off 
the legs, which feel a painful heat. 
In like manner if a crab be thrown into hot water, 
he cafts off all his legs together. For which rea- 
fon, when they are to be boiled, they put them into 
the pot in cold water, and let it warm very flowly, 
until the creature gradually die. 
Thefe, my dear friend, are the principal remark- 
ables, relating to this animal j which being added to 
thofe, which fome time ago you deliver’d to the 
Royal Society, and publifhed in their TranfaCtions, 
will go pretty far in the natural hiftory of this won- 
derful animal. 
I am, my dear friend, with much refpeCt andefteem, 
Your affectionate friend, 
P. Collinfon. 
The lobfter cafts his fhell much in the fame manner 
as the river crayfifh, which are a fpecies of frefli- 
water lobflers. 
IX. 
