REPRODUCTION OF THK CONCH. 695 



of capsules is gradually thrust upward as fast as formed, and finally protrudes from the surface of 

 the sand, and, when completed, lies exposed on its surface. The string begins as a .single shred, 

 two or three inches long, without well-formed cases; the first cases are small and imperfect in 

 shape, but they rapidly increase in size and soon become perfect, the largest being in the middle; 

 the series ends more abruptly than it began, with a few smaller and less perfect capsules. The 

 number of capsules varies considerably, but there are usually seventy-five to one hundred or 

 more. At Fort Macon Dr. Coues observed this species spawning in May, but at New Haven they 

 spawn as early as March and April. It is probable that the period of spawning extends over 

 several mouths. Mr. Sanderson Smith thinks that they also spawn in autumn on Long Island. It 

 is not known how long a time each female requires for the formation of her string of capsules. 

 There are two forms of these capsules, about equally abundant in this region. In one the sides of 

 the capsules are nearly smooth, but the edge is thick or truncate along most of the circumference, 

 and crossed by numerous sharp transverse ridges or partitions, dividing it into facets. Dr. 

 Coues states that these belong to Fulytir carica. An examination of the young shells, ready 

 to leave the capsules, confirms this. The other kind has larger and thinner capsules, with a thin, 

 sharp outer edge, while the sides have radiating ridges or raised lines. Sometimes the sides 

 are unlike, one being smooth and more or less concave, the other convex and crossed by ten 

 or twelve radiating, elevated ridges extending to the edge. This kind was attributed to Fulgur 

 carica by Dr. G. H. Perkins, and formerly by Mr. Sanderson Smith, but a more careful examina- 

 tion of the young shells, within the capsules, shows that they belong to Sycotypus eanaliculata.' n 



Eggs so exposed are subject to numberless accidents, being drifted ashore, ground to pieces 

 by storms, and no doubt eaten by bottom-feeding fishes, so that only a few eggs out of the 

 hundreds in each "necklace" are ever born, or, accomplishing that, are able to survive the perils 

 of unprotected youth and grow to adult age and strength. Having once done so, however, this 

 mollusk probably lives to a very great age. 



An examination of a specimen of either of these species will show that in both the 

 muscular part is large and strong and the mouth powerful. The food of the Conch being mainly 

 the flesh of other mollusks, its method of killing them is one of brute strength, since it is unpro- 

 vided with the silicious, file-like tongue by means of which the small "Drills" set at naught the 

 shelly armor of their victims. The Conch is a greater savage than that. Seizing upon the unfor- 

 tunate Oyster, unable to run away, he envelops its shell in the concave under surface of his foot, 

 and, by just such a muscular action as you would employ in grasping an object in the palm of 

 your fist, crushes the shell into fragments and feasts at leisure on the flesh thus exposed. Where 

 Oysters or other prey are abundant, this operation is quickly repeated and vastly destructive. 

 One planter in the upper part of Buzzard's Bay, where these pests are very troublesome, thought 

 one Winkle was capable of killing a bushel of Oysters in a single hour. They do not confine 

 themselves to Oysters altogether, of course; any mollusks or other marine animal, sluggish and 

 weak enough to be caught and broken up, suffers from their predacity. I was told in New 

 Jersey, by an intelligent man, that the Couch would even draw the Razor-shell out of his burrow 

 and devour it. If this be true, no doubt the Soft Clam also falls a victim to the same marauder. 

 The Quahaug is generally safe in his massive shells. 



The oyster-beds most subject to attack and harm by the Winkles and Conchs are those 

 planted in water which is quite salt, as is the practice in New England and Long Island Sound. 

 The beds of the Great South Bay, Staten Island, and the southern Jersey coast are well protected 

 by the outer beaches from the sea, and to these barriers owe their immunity fnuu the- Fulgur, 

 while the Sycotypus, though present inside the beaches, seems to do small damage. Oystermen 



'Report U. S. Fiah Commission, part i, 1873, pp. 355, 356. 



