" In casting their shells, it is bard to conceive how the lobster is able to draw the fish of their large claws out, leaving the shells entire and attached to the shell of their body ; in which state they are constantly found. The fishermen say the lobster pines before casting, till the fish in its large claw is no thicker than the quill of a goose, which enables it to draw its parts through the joints and narrow passage near the trunk. The new shell is quite membranous at first, hut hardens by degrees. Lobsters only grow in size while their shells are in their soft state. They are chosen for the table by their being heavy iu proportion to their size, and by the hardness of their shells on their sides, which when in perfection will not yield to moderate pressure. Barnacles and other small shell-fish adhering to them aro esteemed certain marks of superior goodness. Cock-lobsters are in general better than the hens in winter; they are distinguished by the narrowness of their tails, and by their having a strong spine upon the centre of each of the transverse processes beneath the tail which support the four middle plates of their tails. The fish of a lobster's claw is more tender, delicate, and easy of digestion, than that of the tail. Lobsters are not taken hero in pots, as is usual where the water is deeper and more still than it is upon our coast. Our fishermen use a bag-net fixed to an iron hoop, about 2 feet in diameter, and suspended by three lines like a scale. The bait is commonly fish-guts tied to the bottom and middle of the net. They can take none in the daytime, except when the water in thick and opaque: they are commonly caught in the night; but even then it is not possible to take any when the sea has that luminous appearance which is supposed to proceed from the Nerds noctiluca. In summer, the lobsters are found near the shore, and thence to about 6 fathoms depth of water; in winter, they are seldom taken in less than 12 or 15 fathoms. Like other insects [crustaceans) they are much more active and alert in warm weather than iu cold. In the water they can run nimbly upon their legs or small claws, and if alarmed can spring tail foremost to a surprising distance, as swift as a bird can fly. The fishermen can see them pass about 30 feet, and by the swiftness of their motion, suppose they may go much farther. Atherueus remarks this circumstance, and says that the ineurvated lobsters will spring with the activity of dolphins. Their eyes are raised upon moveable bases, which enables them to see readily every way. When frightened they will spring from a considerable distance to their hold in the rock ; and, what is not lees surprising than true, will throw themselves into their hold iu that manner through an entrance barely sufficient for their bodies to pass, as is frequently seen by the people who endeavour to take them at Filey Bridge. In frosty weather, if any happen to be found near the shore, they are quite torpid and benumbed. A sizeable lobster is commonly from one pound to two in weight. There was one taken here this summer which weighed above four pounds, and the fishermen say they Iowa seen some which were of six pounds, but these are very rare."
There is uo doubt that the lobster changes its shell annually ; but the mode in which this operation is performed is not satisfactorily known. Some suppose that the old shell is thrown off, and that tho animal retires to some lurking place to avoid the voracity of his crust-dad fellows, till his new covering acquires sufficient hardness ; others contend that the process is one of absorption, and these ask, in proof of their views of the case, what becomes of the old shells if there is a true ecdysis or moult, for that the seacoast at the moulting period would be strewed with them I The most probable conjecture is, that the shell sloughs off piecemeal as it does in the crawfish. Lobsters, iu common with most of the Crustaceans, have the power of reproduction to a great extent. if a claw be torn off, it is renewed; and if it be injured, the animal will sometimes throw it off by an effort. It seems that any violent shock to the nervous system will cause this act. If a lobster be thrown into boiling water, it will generally throw off its large claws on the instant ; and the same effect has been produced by plunging the animal, when in full life, into spirit. Pennant goes so far as to make them out to be very nervous subjects indeed. " Lobsters," says he, " fear thunder, and are apt to cast their claws on a loud clap. 1 am told they will do the same on firing a great gun ; snd that when men-of-war meet a lobster-boat, a jocular threat is used, that if the master does not sell them good lobsters they will salute him." That the lobster was well known to the ancients appears from the reference in Mr. Travis's letter,•and from many other evidences. It will be sufficient to add that, under the name of clareothr, Aristotle, in the second chapter of the fourth book of his 'History of Animals,'. gives a most faithful and elaborate account of the species which is still an inhabitant of the !Mediterranean.
Astacusfluviatilis, the Crawfish, is to be found in the fresh waters of Europe and the north of Asia. It thrives best in rivers, where in holes hi the banks and under stones it lies in wait for the small molluscous animals, little fishes, the larvm of insects, and decomposing animal substances, which form its prey. Desmarest says that it will live for upwards of 20 years, and that it becomes large in proportion to its age ; that towards the end of spring it casts off the pieces which form its shell, and some days after becomes covered with a crust as solid as the former one, but larger, sometimes by as much as one-fifth. The eggs, which are excluded about two months after impregnation, are collected under the lower part of the body or tail, as it is popularly called, after the manner of the hen-lobster. From these proceed the young crawfishes, which are very small and soft, but which bear an exact resemblance to the parent, under whose tail they are nursed for several days.
The crawfish is taken either by nets or by bundles of thorns in which flesh in a state of decomposition is placed. It is also taken by inserting the hand into the hole which it inhabits; and at night it is caught by means of lighted torches. [enusracEs.]