288 DIMYARIA.—SOLENIDA. 
The habits of a species closely allied to this 
(S. marginatus) were made the subject of investi- 
gation by the celebrated Reaumur, who published 
an account of them, illustrated by figures, in the 
‘ Mémoires de lAcadémie des Sciences,” for 
1712. It burrows in sand near low-water mark, 
spring-tides, to the depth of from a foot and a 
half to two feet. The Solens he in their holes 
nearly vertical, and their places are marked by 
perforations shaped like keyholes, corresponding 
to the form of the extremities of their united 
siphons. They are nearly vertical, and do not 
remain quiet, but rise up and down, now and then 
shifting themselves partly above the sand, as if to 
learn what is going on in the world above. When 
the tide goes out they sink deeper. The fishermen 
then endeavour to tempt them out as little boys 
would catch birds if they could—by putting salt 
on their tails. The salt penetrating the perfo- 
ration, reaches and irritates the extremities of the 
siphons, and the Solen, annoyed and pained, rises 
suddenly to clear itself of the nuisance. His vigi- 
lant human enemy watches the moment, and seizes 
the opportunity—and the Solen, if he can catch 
it; but unless very quick in his motions, those of 
the Solen may be quicker, and once aware of the 
danger impending, the sensible shell-fish will not 
rise again, but submits patiently to the indignity 
of being salted alive, rather than run the msk of 
being caught and roasted, or else cut up for bait. 
But if it be not touched, a second dose of salt will 
cause it again to rise, which shows that knowledge 
and recollection of the danger is the impediment 
to its reappearance in the former case. Fishermen 
in England have a queerly absurd fancy that when 
