Lia Lott, age 9, of Fayetteville, W.Va., for her question:

DOES THE CRAYFISH HAVE STRANGE DIGGING HABITS?

The crayfish, a fresh water crustacean that is closely related to the lobster, does indeed have some strange digging habits. He lives in and along rivers and lakes on every continent except Africa and Antarctica.

He has burrowing habits which can possibly destroy croplands or weaken levees and mill dams. He may dig down to the water in damp meadows and throw up clay ''chimneys'' as he goes along.

He lives on snails, small fish, tadpoles or insects. He's more active at nightfall and at daybreak when he comes out of his burrow or from under a stone. If he loses one of his legs or claws, he can grow a new one in its place.