382 SEA-SIDE STUDIES. 



broken into one, and presenting very mucli the ap- 

 pearance of the key-hole of a writing-desk. An 

 experienced eye detects the trace with an unerring 

 sagacity marvellous to the stranger, for the sand is 

 perforated by holes of all sizes. The amateur may, 

 however, ascertain which are the Solen-holes by at- 

 tempting every one resembling a key-hole, and, after 

 a few trials, he will gradually learn to detect them. 

 If he have an iron rod, about as thick as a steel-pen- 

 holder, let him place the point in the hole, and if the 

 hole be the retreat of a Solen, the rod will pass some 

 distance by its own weight. If any force be required 

 to push it through the sand, he may be tolerably sure 

 that he is at a wrong hole. It is in this way that 

 fishermen habitually catch the Solen ; and the ama- 

 teur will find that considerable dexterity is required 

 to use the rod with effect. It must be suffered to drop 

 by its own weight till the fish be felt ; then, by a half 

 turn of the rod, the harpoon end fixes the shell, and 

 the animal may be dra^vn up. Having repeatedly tried, 

 and ignobly failed, I could not help admiring the dex- 

 terity with which my companion whipped them up, 

 one after the other, scarcely ever missing ; nor would 

 my amour propre suffer me to quit the sands, until I 

 had acquired sufficient skill to bring up a fish in about 

 every three trials. This is the legitimate mode. It is 

 the only one I find recorded in books ; and from what 

 Professor E. Forbes says, I conclude it is the only one 

 Imown to naturalists. 



But any one who hunts these Solens for sport, and 



