Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-10-15
Habits of Lobsters,

Many OF our readers have fondness of lob
ster flesh, who may know little about the habits
OF this prince of shell flesh. As kind of des-
sert after hearty meal on this luxury of the
table, We commend to their attention the fol-
loving sketch, by Mr.. G. p. Discewav:
"Who does not like the flesh of the lobster 2
Even the child knows the nursey riddle, BLACK
in the kitchen, red on thetable.' Without any
warmth in their bodies, or even without red
blood circulating through their veins. thew are
wonderfully voracious. They even devour each
other, and may be said TO eat themselye,. for
changing their shell and stomach eyery wear.
theas remains are generally the firss morseI 10
glut their new system. They are ALWAYS in
harness, heavily armed to the teeth; seven
Jointed is the cunningly forged mail Of their
back. Beneath this protecting roof move four.
yea eight sprawiing feet, four on each eide,
pushing forward the unWielding war engine,
like the Roman legion under the shelter Of the
battering ram. ,r .-n -eI
"The two great claws arethe lobster q in
strument Of provision and defense, and by
opening, like pair Of scissors, they have great
strength, and take firm hold. Between the two
claws lies the animals head, very small, with
eyes like two black, horny specks, on each eide,
and these can advance out of the socket or
draw In at pleasure. The mouth, like that Of
insects, opens lengthwise of the body, not
crosswiae, as with men and higher races of
animals IL has two teeth for its food, but
three more In the stomach. Before the pointed
nose, the long, wire-like feelers or horns are
stretched out, that seem to aid the dimness of
its sight. The tail, or jointed instrument, 10
its great locomotive, by which It is raised and
propelled through the water. Bending tbis we
We see lodged the spawn 10 great abundance.
when the young Holsters leave the parent.
they seek refuge In small clefts of the rocks, or
crevices at the bottom of the sea. In few
weeks they grow much larger, and change their
shell for lobst tsrhood. In general, this 10 done
once year, and 10 o painful operation. For
some days before this change, the animal dis
continues its usual strength and vigor, lying
torpid and motionless; but Just before casting
its shell, striking its claWs against each other,
every limb seems to tremble. Then the BODY
swells In an unusual name and the shell begins
to divide, II seems turned inside out, the somach
coming away with hs shell. In like manner
the claws are 'diGengaged, the lobster casting
them OF as much % you or l would kick OF a
boot too big for us. For several hours 1t ros
cont pues enfeebled and motIonless, but In two
days the new skin becomes hardened, and With.
In forty-eight hours the shell Ia perfectly fern
ed and hard, like the one Just cast off.
"The lobster now increased more than third
in size, and like boy who has outgrown bis
pants, Il seems wonderful how the old shell
could contain go great On animal o. filled the
new. Below, in bis native element he reaches
the age of twice tea yesrs, and looses q foot or
claw without feeling his loss, for he knows
that they will grow again. At certain seasons
HOLSTERS never meet each other without having
o. fight, and when leg or even claw is loss,
the victor carries IL OF while the vanquished
retires for hoI ough repair of his Injured arat-
omy = This 10 quickly accomplished, 70. in
three weeks the new limb is mel ally as large and
powerful 90 the old one.
"When limiting the lobster resods to strata.
gem If his Strength bs insufficient. In vain tie
oyster eloses the door against his grasping,
viee-llke claw, ior. 90 so,n as the unsuspec.ing z
muecle opens hls house, ID be pops stone, and,
the breach made, the oyster muet surrender.
.-.The lobster has bis rocky hole ct depth Of
from six to twelve fathoms, and the propagation
Of his yaceis continued on in marvellous num-
bera. More than twelve thousand eggs have
been counted Oh single female. When he
reacher the light he 10 inactive, but in bis own
realm he da,hes with rapid speed over chasms
and rocky table lands In the ocean. A mo ior
| OF bis tall Ia sufficient to hurl HIN fifty fee
deep, and thus escape the swlftest pursuit. St
sure 10 this leap, that he never misses the en-
trance Of hls cavern, even In the most preoipi.
tous flight, although too, it merely offers spao
enough TO admit his BODY