Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-03-20
some,bing about Lobsters.

1t isa characteristic of human nature to
andervalue, or rather to overlook, objects
Of interest that are near at hand. Chester
Harding, in his autobiography, relates that
once when he had set OUT to visit Daniel
Boone, he found that the nearer he got to
his dwelling the less was known of him or
his whereabouts; and once in our own tx-
perience when within five miles of Natural
bridge, farmer of whom we inquired the
way was wholly unable to furnish the re-
quired information, giving as answer that
he had t.heard tell of some such place, but
really hardly knew exactly where it was"
In similar manner the citizens of New
York. have been thronging the Cooper In
stitute to hear the lectures of Professor
Agassiz aupon the animals of a distant
country, totally unaware, perhaps, that
there exist on their own shores animals
whose habits are fully as singular and ia
tereSting as any that are found IN the Val
ley OF the Amazon. Among these may be
mentioned one whose life is passed in the
oeean or its inlets, and which, at certain
seasons of the year, constitutes very COM
mon as well as delicious article of diet
We allude to the common lobster, known
In the nursery riddle as tBlack in the
Kitchen. Red on the Table"
70 This class of animal, says the Hon. G. P.
Disosway, who has made the subject a
study, and, from whom the following facts
are principally derived, ,sare totally unlike
fishes, though inhablting the same element,
and seem to invert the order of nature, hav-
ing their bony parts on the outside of the
body and their muscles within. From the
peeuliarfty OF their form the head is fire.
Qlently taken for the tail an error, how
ever (which is at once detected when the
aniu8al is in motion. The two great claws
which constitute one OF its means of loco
motion serve also as puryeyOrs and defend
ers. Opening and shutting like pair of
I.al 70 hnl nf m
object with celerity, and being notched like
a saw, they retain their grasp with Won
deffal tenacity. Accompanying these pow
erful arms are eight legs, four on each side,
which, with the tail, give the creature its
sidelOng and progressive motion. Between
its two claws is the head, which has eyes re-
sembling two black beads. These have the
power of being protruded or drawn in as
the occasion requires. Unlike fishes gem
%erally, the mouth, as is the case with in
sects, opens parallel with the body and is
provided with two teeth. This lack of mas
ticators in the mouth, however, is made up
by'thTee additional ones which are placed
in the stomach. Two long horns or feelers
on each side OF the head complete the arma-
ment of this part of the body. The tail,
which is iOinted, also serves double pur-
pose, first, as the chief means OF motive
power, and secondly, as covering or pro-
lection for the spawn of the female.
the lobster possesses with all crustaceous
animals, is also most curious phenOme-
non, First, like the bark of a tree when
bursting asunder, the cuirass of the body
opens exactly in the middle Of the back.
The thick, soft trunk, tail, claws and feet,
then undergo the same process until in
about three days the old case is left empty.
The most difficult part of this operation is
the passage of the claws, which have to be
squeezed through the narrow shoulder
i0iut-a process, however, that is greatly
assisted by the condition of the flesh,
which, at this period, is as soft and flexible
as india-rubber. Some of the claws, which
are often as large as the head and body to-
gether. have the faculty of reproducing
themselves when bruised or broken.
Except at the period of casting their
shells they remain at the bottom OF the
Wafer near the shore, but at other seasons
OF the year, especially in winter, they pre-
fer deeper soundings. The first eggs are
found in December. In a few weeks little
Holsters appear about the size OF ants; and
IN a few weeks, more they have grown sufi-
GENTLY strong to trust themselves to the
deep. But there are other facts going to
prove the wonderful nature of this crea-
tufe. 1t is an animal whose skin is a stone,
and yet icast of every year for new
coat: whose stomach, which is its head. is
changed every year for new one, and
whose first act after procuring a new stom-
ach Is to eat and digest its old one. An
animal. also, without bones on the inside,
and vet capable of digestipg the hardest
Substances, such as the shells of muscles,
oysters, and even its own, and one that
without circulating blood is active and
vigorous.
Tie lobster is also very prolific. During
The proper season five or six ships sail from
the coast Of Norway to supply London
with this article of diet. Other ships carry
TO Holland more than half million. We
have no means of estimating tile number
used in the United States, but it must be
immense. They are found on the sea-coast
from New Jersey eastward, and are gener-
aIIv caught in sbaSket2 or s'pot" made OF
wicker work and baited.
In his own native element the lobster
DropeIs himself rapidly over the rocky
table lands and chasIns OF the ocean. A
single blow of bis tail can hurl him down
more than fifty feet, thus enabling MIN 70
escape the sWiftesE enemy or pursueF.
With such precision als0is this dive taken,
that,even in the most precipitons hlghr
ffla lobster never misses the entrance OF MS
cavern: q circumstance which is the more
TemaFkable from the fact that the opening
to7 his retreat affords only sufficient space
tn admit of his body. When hunting he
resorts to- strata gem.e In vain the oyster
closes his portals against the grasping for
conc Of his ssWorn enemy" The latter
IriII lie in ambush until the unsuspieious
ft;vaive opens its door, when he pops IN
Stone and having thus effected breach,
ssvesihis victim to surrender at discretion.
0''11 .ss3ll4 3-aEl4J tqaE 81 tJ