CHAPTEE III. 



HOW TO CATCH EAZOR-FISH — THE CORKSCREW CORALLINE — DANGER OF 

 A PRIORI VIEWS IN ZOOLOGY — EXAMINATION OF THE NERVOUS 

 SYSTEM OF MOLLUSCS — DOUBTS RESPECTING CURRENT DOCTRINES 

 OF NERVE-PHYSIOLOGY— ABSENCE OP NERVE-FIBRES — ORIGIN OF 

 SENSIBILITY — SENSIBILITY IN THE ABSENCE OF NERVES— ON THE 

 RELATION BETWEEN ORGAN AND FUNCTION — CONCLUSION. 



The juvenile naturalist is often instructed in the facile 

 art of catching birds by first di-ojoping a pinch of salt 

 upon their tails. Excellent as this plan seems, it has 

 never proved perfectly successful, owing to a trifling 

 initial difficulty. If, in your halcyon days, you have 

 ever made the attempt, what wiU your thoughts be on 

 hearing that an intense philosopher, like the present 

 writer, did actually imitate that attempt in capturing 

 the Razor-fish (Solen) ; positively carrying a paper of 

 salt, in the firm confidence of dropping some grains 

 on the tail of that retiring mollusc ? Nay, what will 

 you think on hearing that this was not only at- 

 tempted in all seriousness, but in all seriousness 

 succeeded ? 



The shells of the Solen lie scattered on the sands of 

 all om^ bays, and are familiar to every sea-side visitor. 



