bottom and dig burrows, as do their parents. During this free-swimming 

 time they are the prey of numerous animals- -mollusks, worms, starfish, 

 and even fishes - - so that only a small number live to become established 

 in their burrows. They should be protected during the months of Septem- 

 ber, October, and November, in the same manner as are the birds in the 

 spring. Not only is the clam in great danger while 'young, but even 

 when it has reached adult life and is apparently safe in its burrow, 

 it is still beset by enemies. One of these is the clam worm, a cylindrical 

 animal about an inch long, and the other is the drill, which sometimes 

 finds the clam near the surface, and then proceeds to drill a hole in 

 its shell and suck the juices of the animal. Flounders, cod, and other 

 fish also prey upon the poor clam." 



As the tide was now almost high, we picked up our collecting baskets 

 and walked toward the boat landing. On our way, one of our party 

 picked up a long, slim clam, resembling the blade of a razor. This, the 

 Professor said, was called a razor clam. A little later, another specimen 

 was found which contained 

 the animal. It was very 

 curious, and is pictured on 

 this page. The siphons 

 were partly divided, and 

 covered with little finger- 

 like projections called papillae. The foot was very sharp and some- 

 what pointed on the end. 



Near the razor clam, the Professor picked up another shell containing 

 the animal which he called Tagelus gibbus. The foot was very large 

 for the size of the shell, and the siphons were remarkable, being very 

 long, and separated their whole length. Professor Parker told us that 

 the siphons of different bivalves were of many shapes and sizes. Some, 

 like the soft- 

 shelled clam, 

 were long, and 

 bound up in one 

 piece. Others, 

 like the Tagelus, 

 were long and 

 separated ; while 

 still others were 

 short, thick, 



united, or separated ; and in fact, almost any modification could be found. 

 In some cases, one siphon might be longer than the other, as is the case 



67 



Razor shell, Ensis directus, with foot and siphons ex- 

 tended. (Verrill.) 



Tagelus gihbus, with foot and siphons extended. Note the long, 

 divided siphons. (Verrill.) 



