.
They are able to throw off a limb or two whenever they are frightened.
Also they often lose a claw in the terrible fights of which they seem so
fond. If one joint of a claw becomes injured the Lobster has no further
use for it; he is wise, for his very life depends on his armour. So he
throws it away, not at the wounded joint, but at the joint above.

After a time a slight swelling appears on the stump thus made; this
gradually grows into a new limb. It may be smaller than the lost one,
but it is perfect in detail. What a useful gift this must be to an
animal like the Lobster, whose whole life is one terrible fight after
another!

The baby Lobsters, like the baby Crabs, are quite unlike their parents.
They swim about at the surface of the sea, and already they seize every
chance of fighting and eating their small neighbours.

When about one inch in length they leave this infants' school, and join
another at the bottom of the sea. Here they eat, fight, grow and change
their coats, just as the young Crabs do. They are now like their
parents. Sometimes they grow to be huge, and to weigh as much as
ten-and-a-half pounds.

The mother Lobster carries as many as thirty thousand eggs under her
body! Needless to say, a very, very few of this enormous family survive
the dangers of the sea. The rule there is--"Eat and be eaten!".

EXERCISES

1. What is a Crab larva like?

2. Give the names of four crustaceans.

3. Why does the Crab have to change its shell?

4. Why does it hide away at that time?

5. Of what use are Shore Crabs?

6. How are Lobsters caught?

[Illustration: THE LOBSTER.]

LESSON V.

SHRIMPS, PRAWNS AND BARNACLES.

In nearly every shore-pool you may see Shrimps and Prawns darting out of
sight, and, for every one you see, there are many more hidden away.
These delicate, transparent, lively creatures are not much like the
boiled Shrimps and Prawns of the fish-shop.

They are the prey of so many fish, crabs, and birds, that they have
learnt to "make themselves scarce." Have you ever watched them in a
glass tank, or aquarium? If so, you will know that it is not easy to see
them. In the shore-pools it is harder still.

Some are swaying about in the still, clear water, moving their long
feelers from side to side. Others have burrowed into the sand. In doing
this, they raise a sandy cloud, which settles on them and hides them. To
catch some, you must use a "shrimp-net," for they can dart