Sharp County record., 1888-08-16
THE CRAWFISH.
Some Interesting Facts About This
Curious Animal.
When and How 1t Lives-How the Mother
Cares for and Protects It's Young
A Simple Diet-An IMAM
swered Question.

In my rambleS through the woods
and fields | have found no more inter-
esting animal than the common craw-
fish. The creature is very curiOusly
distributed for in certain large areas
in this country they are entirely alb
sent, as for instant in New England,
while Just over the border, in New
York, they are found in great abun-
dance. In one stream they may be very
numerous, while in the next they are
not found at all. The little creatures
are very particular, and unless the
water Just suits their taste they will
not stay. One kind, blind species,
lives in the Mammoth Cave, another
burrows in the levees on the. e..Mississip-
pi, doing much damage; but the ma
iority live in the clear springs or
brooks that are so common near large
- risrepss---
have sat for hours on the shady
banks of a favOrite stream near Wash
ington and watched the busy fellows,
and my interest never tagged, for |
was always learning something new
about their habits. They lurk in dark
corners, ready to seize upon any un-
suspecting creature that has the mis-
fortune to pass near them. The old
crawfish, as they swim about, look
clumsy and unbalanced, for their two
large claws seem grievOusly in the
way. They often leave the dark cor
ners and venture into the open water,
carrying their large claws awllwardly
in front and slowly creeping along.
If two of them meet they fight as
matter of course, just as two hostile
knights would have done in the dark
ages. They fence with the large claws,
parry, make thrusts and try their ut
most to injure one another. At times
they seem to be shaking hands, but
upon close inspection it will be found
to be nothing but a test of strength.
The object of the grasp is to crush the
claw of the other. But unless one is a
great deal larger than the other this
is never accomplished.
1t is very amusing to watch the mo-
tions of their eyes, which are stalked
and movable. During the contest the
eyes are eagerly pushed forward, but
if large claw comes too near, the eyes
spring back into the sockets as if they
were on the end of an elastic stalk
Although | have watched scores OF
combats, have never seen a single eye
injured. Often one gets hold of one of
the small claws; then with a sudden
flap of the tail the cruel fellow darts
backward and takes the small claw
with him. They usually fight till they
get tired, then of one accord depart
Place your hand in the water near
them and they are off like flash,
sailing down stream by quick flaps of
the tail. If you place a net behind
them the stupid creatures dart back
into it.
The way the mother protects the
Young is very curious. As the eggs
are laid, the female catches every one
on r.swimmerets, and as soon as they
touch they adhere firmly by means OF
hydraulic cement. With one or two
hundred eggs the mother retires be-
hind a pebble and remains until the
Young leave their baby prison. When
the tiny things tear away the covering
they are nearly all head and claws.
Some strange instinct leads them to
remain with their mother for few
davs before venturing into the world to
take care of themselves. In day or
two the little creatures venture an inch
or two from their parent, but on the
least sign of danger they fly precipi-
tately back to their mother. Gradually
they venture farther, until at last they
leave their birthplace forever to seek
their fortune in the small stream
their world, have often seen craw-
fishes devour the young that come
within their reach, and have wondered