BIVALVES. 55 
respire water like their finny neighbours, and even 
sport upon the surface of the billows. 
Now, from this we might suppose that the inha- 
bitant was, at least, provided with the usual requisites 
for moving his feet, in order to walk upon the sand, 
or that he can swim at ease in the wide ocean by 
means of such appendages as obviate in aquatic 
natures the necessity of wings. Neither of these 
are assigned to him. But the Creator, who varies 
his means with the obstacles to be surmounted, has 
contrived a peculiar and appropriate mechanism, 
which answers the purpose equally well. The inha- 
bitant is fastened to the upper and lower shells by 
two white flat cords of muscular substance, which 
extend about two_inches from the thick part of the 
body, and gradually decrease in size. ‘The extremity 
of each ear lies loose from the body of the animal ; it 
is surrounded with a double brown fringed line, and 
is capable of being moved at pleasure. Next to 
these, above and below, are situated two other double 
fringed moveable substances, like the bronchiz of a 
fish. Now mark the purpose to which the ears and 
the fringes are applied. They are joined to a 
cylindrical piece of hard and muscular flesh, which is 
capable of being contracted by the animal, for the 
purpose of closing the doors of his impregnable 
citadel; when, on the contrary, he wishes to throw 
