NATURAIy history OF AMERICAN LOBSTER. 
205 
The period of uneasiness, which foreshadowed the molt and was very marked, 
ended in this lobster by its rolling over on its side, briskly moving its legs, and bending 
its body in the shape of the letter V, the angle of the V corresponding to the gaping 
chink between the dorsal shield and tail. Presently the old cuticle, holding these parts 
together, began to stretch, the wall of the body pressing against it with considerable 
force, and the hinder end of the shield being slowly lifted up, while its anterior part 
remained attached to the rest of the skeleton. The slow but sure pressure of the parts 
within cause an increasing tension in the yielding cuticular membrane, which finally 
bursts, revealing the brilliant colors of the new shell. The legs and other appendages 
are occasionally moved, but no marked convulsive movements are to be seen. The 
carapace has now become raised to an elevation of perhaps 2 inches in its hinder part, 
in consequence of which, the anterior end being fixed, the rostrum is bent downward 
and the animal presents a very singular appearance. 
When this stage has been reached the lobster becomes quiet for a few seconds and 
then resumes its task with renewed vigor. From this time on until free its muscles work 
intermittently. The doubled-up fore part of the body, with each effort of the animal, 
is more and more withdrawn from the old shell, and this implies the separation of the 
skin from the intricate linkwork of the internal skeleton, and particularly in its release, 
together with a part of the nerve cord, from the closed archway of this structure, as 
well as the freeing of the 28 separate appendages from their old cases and tendons, for 
the accomplishment of which special adjustments are made in advance. The cuticular 
sheath of every ectodermic structure is stripped off. The exoskeleton folded to fit so 
complicated a mold is virtually a continuous structure, and from the method of its 
regeneration the sloughing of one part necessitates the shedding of the whole. 
The carapace is now elevated to such an extent from behind that the rostrum is 
directed obliquely downward and backward. The lobster is still lying in comparative 
quiet upon its side, but the muscles of all its appendages are undergoing violent con- 
traction as the animal tugs and wrestles violently as if to free itself from ropes which 
bind it down firmly on every side. The carapace is unbroken, yet the two halves bend 
as upon a hinge along the median line, where the lime of the shell, has been absorbed. 
Presently the pressed-down bases of the antennae, the eyestalks, and the bent-down 
rostrum of the new shell can be clearly seen. No part of the covering of the large 
claws or of any of the legs have been split or cracked. The muscular masses of the 
powerful claws have been withdrawn through their narrow openings without a rent. 
Finally a few kicks free the entire forward half of the body, the antennae, chelipeds, 
and varous other parts, which now lie above or to one side of the old covering. The 
tail has been gradually breaking away from its old case, and as soon as the forward 
part of the body is withdrawn the lobster gives one or two final switches and is free. 
The newly molted lobster has a very sleek and fresh appearance, and its colors 
were never brighter or more attractive. Try to take it up in the hand, after some time 
has elapsed, and it feels as limp as wet paper; but immediately after casting the shell 
the muscles of the crustacean are hard and tense, probably from being in a state of 
cramp or tetanus. Every part of the old shell down to a microscopic hair has been 
