The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-03-05
TOILET OF THE LOBSTER.
Hes ~. Get. out Of H,. osd she'll ssa
Takes ola = New One.


II has not happened to every one 20
see a lobster cast his she'll Last sum
msr had an opportunity OF watching
che process. says a writer In Preside.
I was staying for several weeks In a
secluded little village on the south
coast and one day. when the only fsh-
erman In the place returned after TAX
ing up HIS pots. he flung on the beach
specimen too small Tor sale or home
consumption. The prize was taken pos
session OF by boy. who presented Il
10 my improyised aquarium for which
All the little boys OF the village were
enthusiastic collectors. I kept the wa
ter well aeraicd and devoted great
deal Of time and attention 20 my yari-
Gus live stock. and NJ last my reward
came. Al the time % his capture my
lobster had already begun 20 think
about getting a new suit. and as the
days went by the old she'll became so
small for him that he could no longer
avcid dlscard!ng his overwhelming az
NOR. One morning. therefore. found
my lobster apparently 10 his last agon-
les. Tie lay on hls back and rubbed his
legs eonyulslyely together as II 10 in
tense pain and then he wriggled about
or jerked himself violently upward by
means OF his tail suppose that these
actions had for their object the loosen
ing Of the claws and limbs Ia their
sheaths. The rapid movements some
what disturbed the sand and Cloudci
the water. but as the patient lay close
to the glass never entirely lost sight
OF him. Nevertheless. DO not quite
know how II an occurred. The throes
continued for an hour or more and ef-
forts were apparently made 10 burst the
shell open from within. but II was not
until ] saw the lobster had actually
/ diycsted himself Of bis head covering
that l understood what my guest was
| about A great deal more wriggllng
and struggling followed. the lobster
gradually squeezing himself. as II were.
out Of the shoulders Of his suit Of ar
NOR.
The operation looked az II Il were
extremely painful and exhaustlng. but
at last had the satisfaction Of seeing
my lobster and his discarded she'll side
b side The latter looked very much
the smaller Of the two and. save that Il
was mo,lonlcss. II might have been mis-
taken FOR a live and healthy crustac OH
In full dress Tine orihce through
which the ancient tenant had eylcted
himself was very small and the head
piece had not been completely thrown
on, but was lcit hanging as II by a
hinge but now the naked lobster did
not look at al Ike his old self His
colors we're 80 bright as 10 suggest that
he had pecn parboi,ed and be- had the
tender appearance ~ human flesh from
which the skin has Just been removed
! took out the shell and found thar my
guest had got rid not only Of the major
part Of his Eyes. but also Of the lining
~ his stomach, including his internal
teeth and ~ some ~ the bones of bis
thoraN. yet he seemed % be little the
worse for his thorough turnout on
my return from luncheon touched him
and found out that. although quite fof,
he was covered With an .uciplen; she'll
%: the approximate solid.ty ~ oiled
tissue paper
have omitted to mention one curious
. Circumstance connected with this par
ticular animals toilet When the lob
ster was given % mo ae vas without his
left big o.le which bad. { suppose.
been accidentally urs10hed m by bis
original .ap,a- The stump very quick.
. ly healed 49, aari aI.ase0us seal On.
crustiuE tas cod % 'as joint T1 my
aston.shwsnf aHsl fHs lobster worked
himself oIt ~ bis shell. hs appeared
with a rui.me1rary Ior claw. which
had evidently formed behind the shield.
This claw grew even more rapidly than
the rest Of the body.