LOBSTER. 367 
rus, or common lobster. Its usual resort is 
in the neighbourhood of rocks, and as the 
water there is generally very clear, its 
habits have been more easily observed 
than those of most animals that live at 
the bottom of the sea. Lobsters change 
their shells annually, during which pro- 
cess they withdraw for security into cre- 
vices of the rock, that, while in a soft 
state, they may avoid their numerous 
enemies ; and among these may be reckon- 
ed their own species, who eat them with 
as much indifference as any other kind 
of prey. This state, however, lasts but 
a very few days, as the new shell hardens 
rapidly. 
Lucy, And then they may boldly 
<iome out of their hiding places, I sup- 
pose r 
Mother, Certainly, The female lob- 
ster produces about twelve thousand eggs 
during the spring and summer, and places 
them in the sand, where they are very 
soon hatched. The larvce have much the 
appearance of tadpoles, and in that state 
s 2 
