The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1888-07-19
THE CRAWFISH.
Some Interesting Facts About This
Curious Animal.
When and How Ii Lives-How the Mother
Cares for and Protects Its Young
A simple Diet-An IMAM
swered Que'tion.

In my rambles through the woods
and fields have found no more inter-
esting animal than the common craw-
fish. The creature is very curiouoly
distributed; for in certain large areas
in this country they are entirely &b-
sent. as for instant in New England.
while Just over the border. in New
York, they are found in great album
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 iii thu luyyvs On the. .Mississlp-
pi. doing much damag.: but the ma
jority live in the clear springs or
brooks that are so common near large
rivers.
have sat for hours on the shady
banks of 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
crawtish, as they swim about. look
clumsy and unbalanced, for their two
large claws seem grievousiy in the
way. They often lcaye the dark cor
ners and venture into the open water,
carrying their large claws awkwardly
in front and slowly creeping along
If two of them meet they fight as a
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 ii 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 tho mo-
tions of their eyes, which are stalked
and movable. During the contest the
eyes are eagerly pushed forward, but
II a large claw comes too near, the eyes
spring back into the sockets as If they
We're on the end of an elastic stalk
Although | have watched scores OF
combats, have never seen 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. II you place a net behind
hem 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
IN her swimmerets, and as soon as they
ouch they adhere firmly by means of
hydraulic cement. With one or two
hundred eggs the mother retires be-
lind pebble and remains until the
'oung leave their baby prison. When
he tiny things tear away the covering
hey are nearly all head and claws.
,ome strange instinct leads them to
emain with their mother for few
lays before venturing into the world to
axe care of themselves. In day or
wo the little creatures venture an inch
II two from their parent, but on the
east sign of danger they fly prccipi-
ate>y back to their mother. Gradually
hey venture farther, until at last they
cave their birthplace forever to seek
heir fortune in the small stream
heir world. have often seen craw-
ishes devour the young that come
within their reach, and have wondered
{ these cannibal mothers eat the very
mes that they so carefully protected,
" if by somo instinct they ,an tell
heir own offspring. The Ower ami.