THE CRAB. 
57 1 
fubftance, each particle of which is the embryo of a fu- 
ture animal. When they are firft excluded from the 
belly, they are placed under the tail, where the parent 
animal protefts them from danger, till they acquire limbs 
and animation. In that Hate, they drop off into the wa- 
ter, when yet very fmaH, and betake themfelves to the 
crevice of 'a rock for kelter, till they are enabled by 
neater ftrength to fearch for their prey. When full 
grown, their voracity is fo mercilefs and indifenminate, 
that they mutually devour each other. 
The lobfters, like aU other infers, poffefs antennse, 
and like thefe animals change their external covering 
once a-year : To them, this is a painful and tedious ope- , 
ration. ’ The lobfler continues growing, while its cruft 
continues unalterably the fame : hence it foon becomes 
too large for its habitation, and is neceffitated to get free. 
During their transformation, all their vigour and activi- 
ty ceafes ; and they no fooner feel its approach, than 
they betake themfelves to fome retired fituation, where 
they may be fafe from the attacks of their enemies. The 
claws, and even the ftomach, are faid to be changed in 
this convulfive effort of nature. Before calling the fliell, 
the animal throws itfelf upon its back, ftrikes its claws 
againft each other, and every limb feems to tremble; its 
feelers are agitated, and its whole body is in violent mo- 
tion. It then fwells itfelf in an unufual manner, and at 
laftthe fhell is feen beginning to divide at its junctures, 
particularly at the belly, where it was leaf! firmly unit- 
ed f • 
4 C 2 In 
| Goldfmith’s Nat. Hift. VoL VI. P- 
