42 



THE ECOXOMIC MOLLUSCA OF ACADIA. 



larger, and nearly as abundant. With that sperie-s it cHunot be con- 

 founded, for it has a very lew spire, no waves, lines, or sculpturing of 

 any kind except the simple longitudinnl lines of growth, and an aper- 

 ture simply rounded below with 

 no sign of a notch or canal. It 

 is generally ash colored, and 

 about two and a half inches long 

 and two inches broad. It grows 

 much larger than this, however, 

 in favorable situations, andWillis 

 mentions that he has had speci- 

 mens from Sable Island measur- 

 ing four or five inches in length, 

 and broad in proportion. 



The Round Whelk is rarely 

 found in rocky situations, prefer' 

 ing sand and mud bottoms. It 

 is not as particular about the 

 puritjr of the water it inhabits as 

 is generally supposed, for it is 



Fig. 8. 



-Lunatia Jieros. Natural Size, 

 found up the St. Cioix River at the Raven's Head and perhaps further. 

 On the flats of Oak Bay, especially on the borders of the deeper parts, 

 it is exceedingly abundant, and there its habits may be easily watched. 

 It not only lives on the surface, but beneath it, the great expanded 

 muscular foot enabling it to burrow readily. 



Everywhere on the flats around our coast, there may be found 

 valvi s of Mussels, Clams and other shells, many of which show a neatly 

 bored round hole, one sixth of an inch in diameter. These are the 

 remains of the victims oH Lunatia. Gra«ping the shell with its powerful 

 foot, it rasps a hole through it with its file-like tongue, inserts its 

 proboscis, and sucks out the juices and soft parts. Not only bivalves, 

 but various Gasteropods* are attacked by it, and it is said even its own 

 young. It even attacks successfully the great Beach-cbim (Jfactra 

 solidisfiwia). It also feeds upon dead fish. Small specimens are frequently 

 found resembling this species in .shape, but .showing three revolving 

 •chestnut-colored bands. These are now considered a variety of L. heros, 

 and are called var. trherinta. Its egg-masses Jippropriately called 

 "Sand-saucers" are quite common on the flats. The eggs are arranged 

 in a " mass of sand glued together into the shape of a broad bowl, open 



♦The writer saw last summer, at Oak Bay. a larpre Bnccimnn nndafutii which 

 liad been attacked by a Li(no<(« little larger than itself. Though the boring had 

 not commenced, the former was completely enclosed by the foot of the latter and 

 had its aperture quite covered with a sticky slin e. It at first seemed dead, but on 

 toeing placed in water revived and seemed none the worse for its adventure. 



