244 SOLENID^. 



the labial tentacles large, very long, triangular, and 

 acute. 



The habits of this species were made the subject of in- 

 vestigation by the celebrated Reaumur, who published an 

 account of them, illustrated by figures, in the " Memoires 

 de TAcademie 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 Salens lie in their holes 

 neai'ly vertical, and their places are marked by perforations 

 shaped like keyholes, corresponding to the form of the ex- 

 tremities 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 perforation reaches and irritates the extremities of the 

 siphons, and the Solen, annoyed and pained, rises suddenly 

 to clear itself of the nuisance. His vigilant 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 risk 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 queer but absurd fancy that 

 when the razor-fish feels the salt, it thinks the tide is 

 coming in, and therefore rises in its hole. 



