32 POPULAR BEITISH CONCHOLOGY. 



simple experiment, by procuring from the kitchen a piece of 

 hearthstone, — which the servant, by the way, observed w-as 

 a very hard piece. With some salt water to assist me, I 

 rubbed the surface wdth my finger, of course keeping to the 

 same spot, and in a very few minutes' time I had made a 

 very sensible impression in the stone. I had not patience 

 to carry the experiment any further; but as far as it went, 

 it left no doubt on my mind that with the foot alone, ivithout 

 siKceous particles, witJiout a chemical solvent, and without 

 using the rasping powers of the shell, our little animal could 

 easily execute his self-pronounced sentence of solitary con- 

 finement for life. 



