9° 



A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SEAS 



ately small glassy shells and the foot is expanded into a 

 huge swimming organ. Like the Violet Snail they live 

 entirely in the open sea and subsist on jellyfish. 



The Whelks and their allies comprise over a hundred 

 species of world-wide origin. All are highly predaceous, 

 using the tongue to drill small holes in the shells of other 

 molluscs and eating out the occupant piecemeal. The 

 eggs are laid within horny capsules, several embryos 



Whelk (Buccinium) and its eggs 



sharing a single envelope. Even at this stage the sanguinary 

 nature of the animal asserts itself, for the embryos prey 

 upon one another, only a single member of each cradle 

 surviving to emerge into the open sea. The egg masses 

 often take very curious forms, those of our own species 

 often being mistaken for sponges and those of the American 

 Whelk suggesting antelope horns. Whelks the world 

 over are valued as food, whilst in remote parts the shells 

 of many are still employed as primitive lamps and 

 trumpets. One whelk at least — the Sacred Chank of 



