No. 5. SOLEN. 



Razor Shell. Inhabitant an JLscidia. 



Shell oblong, gaping at both ends, tooth of the hinge subulate reflex, gen- 

 arally double, not inserted, lateral margin obsolete: in the Solen radiatus, there 

 is an internal rib, extending from the hinge to the margin of the cavity, in a 

 longitudinal direction. The great disproportion in the breadth of the Solen 

 is a remarkable character, and serves to distinguish them from every other 

 genus. 



Solen is also derived from the Greek word auXw, signifying a tube. The 

 French designate the Solens, Manches de Couteaux, in allusion to their 

 shape. 



Many of the bivalved shell fishes have the powers of progressive or retro- 

 grade motion, by an instrument that has some resemblance to a leg or foot, and 

 called the tongue. But these animals can at pleasure make this assume almost 

 any form which their exigencies require. They are incapable of progressive 

 motion on the surface, but they dig a hole or cell in the sand, sometimes two 

 feet in depth, in which they ascend, or descend, at pleasure. The instru- 

 ment, or tongue, by which their motions are performed, is fleshy, cylindrical, 

 and situated near the centre of their body. When necessary, the animals 

 can make the termination of the tongue assume the form of a ball. The 

 razor-fish, when laying on the surface of the sand, and about to sink into it, 

 extends its tongue from the inferior end of the shell, and makes the extremity 

 of it take the form of a shovel, sharp on each side, and terminating in a point. 

 With this instrument the animal cuts a hole in the sand. After the hole is 

 made, it advances the tongue still further into the sand, makes it assume the 

 form of a hook, and with this hook, as a fulcrum, it obliges the shell to de- 

 scend into the hole. In this manner the animal operates, until the shell 

 totally disappears. When it chooses to regain the surface, it forms the 

 termination of the tongue into the shape of a ball, and makes an effort to 

 extend the whole tongue; but the ball prevents any further descent, and the 

 muscular effort necessarily pushes the shell upward, until it reaches the 

 surface. It is amazing with what dexterity and quickness these seemingly 

 awkward motions are performed. 



Two kinds of razor-fish, (Solen Siliqua, and Ensis) are in many places of 

 Great Britain used as food. In Scotland, they are indiscriminately termed 



