36 Dzvellers of the Sea and Shore 



The manner of making and fixing these byssli Is not 

 greatly unlike the method of the garden spider in 

 spinning its web. Although it has acquired a stationary 

 habit it can shift its location when the spirit impels it. 

 When it wishes to move, it fastens a few byssii well out 

 in the direction it intends to travel; then, detaching 

 those in the rear, it hauls itself forward by pulling upon 

 the extended threads. But this is a slow, and seems to 

 be, certainly, a laborious process; far too slow, in fact, 

 to enable it to escape from its enemies, even though it 

 tried. 



It is hard to conceive a more monotonous existence 

 than that led by the mussel. It would almost seem 

 that the excitement of a violent end would come as a 

 welcome in such an eventless life. Beyond gently open- 

 ing and closing its valves, it seldom displays any ac- 

 tivity; but even this movement has its limitations. The 

 valves never open very wide — no more than to make a 

 goodly sized slit in which can be seen the rich reddish 

 brown velvety fringe of its fleshy mantle. 



From this it will be readily surmised that there is 

 nothing spectacular in the moon snail's attack on this 

 unresisting creature. The excitement and action which 

 mark the chase of most predatory marine animals are 

 utterly absent here. The aggressor simply approaches 

 its victim, folds its capacious foot and mantle around 

 it, completely hiding it from sight, and remains im- 

 mobile for the greater part of an hour. After which 

 it releases its hold and glides away to bury itself in 

 the sand. 



Yet, notwithstanding the apparently easy manner in 

 which the moon snail captures its food, its method is 



