Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-09-22
LOBSTERS ARE NOT FOOLS.
They Are Wonderfully Intelligent
and DO Surprising Things.

and DO Surprising Things.
The lobster may bc-a "annibal, but
he Is no fool" said l.. q Spencer. who
has NOR, intimate acquaintance with
lobstcrS than any other man at the
aquarium. Colonel James +. Jones,
superintendent Of small parks, who
has the aquarium among his charges,
cOncurred in the sentiment.
Where the notion originated that
Holsters don't know enough TO get out
Of their own way Is more than ! can
tell, but it did not originate with men
who had experience with Holsters. The
lobster is really clever.
"Of course lie does not look like ii on
the tish stand, where lie lies all curled
up, but any one who ever saw a lob
Ster getting out of his shell and taking
refuge IN his house In the shelter of
rock would know that he has a mind.
A1cr he sheds hls shell he knows he is
fair game for anything that has claws
md jaws, so he goes into retirement.
He does not come out till he has grown
complete new shell. The lobster only
changes his shell when he is growing.
After he stops growing he gets along
with the old one. He may grow to be
any size from pounds up TO 50.
When he is ready to get out Of his
shell, he splits his armor across the
back at the first joipt of the carapace.
That does not require clcvcrness so
much as main strength, but what does
require cleycrneSs Is TO extract the
flesh from the small limbs and from
the claws; also to draw his eyes and
the stems on which they are mounted
beck from the bony eye case and stems
OF the cast off armor And the lobster
does all this perfectly. When he
leaves his shell behind and steps out
in his underClothes. he is perfect. II
he had lost claw or n feeler, he
energies minus claw or feeler, but IS
ready to make up by growing another.
As to the stomach, he turns that inside
out and gets new lining on 1t.
I'm the water the lobster Is as grace
full as any fish that swimS. In sudden
alarm he gives one flIrt of his tail and
shoots from 20 to 80 feet backward,
He hits the mark acknowledgements
| ly some hole in the rocks. A shadow
on the water will make him vanish.
His extraordinary eyes have been spO-
ken of. They are mounted on long
stems, and he can protrude them or
draw them in. He can look backward
or forward with them. They are as
powerful in proportion as the search
lights of a mAn-o' war.
The lobster is a cannibal, but he is
made SO by his environment. Canni.
/ balism is practiced by the most re.
/ spectacle fish and CrustaCeans, and the
/ lobster observes the fashion. If he
sees another lobster in his pyjanas
! after shedding his shell. he goes after
him But he will be contented IL he
/ eats a couple Of legs, which the other
/ fellow can grow again with slight in
! convenience.
The lofty mentality Of the lobster
! is further proved by the strength Of
/ his emotions. This Is shown in love,
war and the chase. The domestic at
fairs Of the male lobster occupy but
small portion Of his time, but the fe-
! male lobster goes into the business Of
raising d family with energy. Some
/ times she lays as many as $4,000 or
10000 eggs. After the brood has hatch.
ed she conveys the young Holsters
about until they can look out for
| themselves.
"Lobsters have fierce duels with
each other, in which they shed injur-
ed parts in order to stop the bleeding
from them. They are good lighters for
! their size. "-EXchange.