32 LIVING CREATURES. 



rises, and stretches out its siphon for the first ripple 

 of food-laden water, as a child holds out its hand for 

 bread. 



Very likely, too, it puts out its foot with a rude ear 

 on it, to catch the music of the advancing surf as the 

 tide creeps up the beach. By and by it comes the 

 richly freighted water with the joy of fresh air and 

 fresh food in every drop ; and the clam is happy. The 

 entire proverb, therefore, is, ' ' As happy as a clam in 

 high water." 



6. THE CLAM'S SHELL. 



THE shell is an admirable house for a body so soft, 

 without a bone in it, and absolutely defenseless. So 

 strong is it tjiat a heavy weight will not crush it. So 

 hard is it that the horny bill of a fish-hawk can not 

 penetrate it. When they want to break the shell of 

 a mollusk, birds are wont to take it in the beak, and, 

 flying to a considerable height, to let it fall upon a 

 rock. Besides being strong and tight when closed, 

 the shell is lined with a pearly and perfectly smooth 

 surface for the delicate mantle to lie upon. 



It is now known how the clam's shell grows. The 

 same sea-water that furnishes lime for the skeleton of 

 the coral, carries lime for the shell of the mollusk. 

 The river and the creek also contain this material. It 

 might be supposed that the shell would somehow grow, 

 and then the tender mollusk would in some way be 

 born within it. The contrary, however, is true. The 



