The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-13

ster doubling his tail under him, and spring
ing UP in the water.
Presently the shell nearest the head
split on the left side near the body, and
opened about an eighth OF an inch. An
other convulsion. followed by a jump, and
the second shell split. This part OF the
operation, which reminded me somewhat Of
a dance that had It's origin In this country
at the Worlds Fair, was repeated until all
the shells were ioosened on the left side.
The lobster once more began the squeezing
process, and after half an hours hard
work finally got clear OF the shell entirely,
lying down by its side for rest which last
ed for three days.
The shell looked much the smaller OF
the two; and save that 1t was motionless,
might have been taken for a live and heal
thy crustacean in full dress. The naked lob
ster did not look at all like his old self.
His colors were so bright as to suggest that
he had been parboiled, and he had the ten
der appearance of human flesh from which
the skin had Just been removed.
Il took out the shell. and upon examina
ton could hardly believe that the former
tenant had squeezed out Of 1t, so small was
the oriflce through which he had come. Not
only had he left the major part Of his eyes,
but also the lining Of his stomach. including
his internal teeth, yet he seemed to be little
worse for the thorough turnout. l touched
him and found that, although quite soft. he
was covered with an incipient shell OF the
approximate soldity OF oiled tissue. That
he did not like to be touched was made ap-
bt, IA
hands
During the three following days the
shrlmps worried him to a considerable ex-
tent; but he grew with marvellous rapidity
until he was fully half as big again as he
had been, and when I once more touched
him, the shell on his big claws was sufr'
GENTLY hard to give me spiteful nip. When
placed the lobster in the aquarium he was
without his big left claw. which had been
accidentally wrenched off at the time OF his
capture. The stump healed very quickly; a
hard. calcareous seal encrus;ing the end
Of the Joint.
when he worked himself out OF his old
shell. he appeared with rudimentary left
claw, which had evidently formed behind the
shield. This claw grew even more rapidly
than the rest of the body. and by the time
the new shell was hard. the new claw,
though still disproportionate was OF very
serviceable dimensions. This Is characteris-
tic Of both Holsters and crabs They some-
times appear to dismember themselves vol
unfairly They apparently feel that they can
make better Job Of an entire limb than Of
a single joint of one. II In taking a crab
from the sea you cause him to lose the out
ermost joint OF one Of his big claws. he will
presently Jerk away the rest Of the limb
right up to the shoulder. He does not sim
ply drop It; he actually and unmistakably
casts II from him. 1t is useless: and he at
once sets to work to grow a new one.
"snce the operation which l have Just
described took place. have witnessed Sc
veral more Holsters go through the same
process. They have varied slightly as to the
length OF time which they took to accom-
plish the change, but in every other way
the mode OF splitting the shell and squeez-
Ing their bodies out has been Identical"