MODE OF FISHING FOR THE RAZOR-SHELL. 481 



animal, when, being alarmed by the shaking of the 

 sand, it contracts its body*. Guided by the orifice 

 through which the water is thus ejected, he plunges 

 his rod into the sand, and generally succeeds in 

 piercing the mollusk with its barbed point, and 

 dragging it from its concealment; but, should he 

 fail in his first attempt, he well knows that to try 

 again would be unavailing, for the creature instantly 

 works its way down to such a depth as to render 

 pursuit hopeless. 



A still simpler mode of obtaining them, without 

 injuring the animal, is by putting a little salt upon 

 their holes. The salt, penetrating the perforation in 

 the sand, reaches and irritates the extremities of the 

 siphons, when the mollusk, annoyed by the applica- 

 tion, immediately mounts to the surface ; by watch- 

 ing the moment, the vigilant aquariist may then 

 seize the opportunity and the Solen, if he can catch 

 it ; but, unless very quick in his movements, those of 

 the " Razor '' will be the quickest, and, once aware of 

 the danger, the sensible shell-fish will not rise again, 

 but submits patiently to the indignity of being salted 

 alive rather than run the risk of being caught and 

 roasted, or else cut up for bait. 



Nothing is more wonderfully illustrative of the 

 perfection of structure conferred upon these humble 

 creatures, than the machinery whereby they are 

 enabled to burrow beneath the compact, and, at the 

 same time, loose material, wherein they dwell, a feat 



* The Solen, or " Razor-sheath," derives its scientific name 

 from the Greek word awXrjv, a pipe, or squirt ; a term by no 

 means inappropriate either to its shape or habits. 



Y 



