See quotations.
1805. On the banks of the rivers and creeks are a great many Cray-Fish. This is a mischievous little creature to dams and water courses, by digging holes which let off the water.—Thaddeus M. Harris, ‘State of Ohio,’ p. 117. (Italics in the original.)
1823. About nine to twelve inches of surface, good soil, rather light, is found. Underneath is white clay, which an animal like a crab, but called a crawfish, throws up into numerous hills, bigger than the large ant-hills in old English pastures.—W. Faux, ‘Memorable Days in America,’ p. 283 (Lond.).
1826. Innumerable little cones of earth raised by the crawfish, a circumstance which is well known to indicate a cold and wet soil.—T. Flint, ‘Recollections,’ p. 265.
