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?