202 NATURAL HISTORY OF OUR SHORES 



half-an-inch long at most, of buff colour, and with nearly 

 parallel sides. It can be known from small examples of 

 somewhat similar form and colour by its being red on the 

 under side. 



Patella vidgata. The common limpet is too well known 

 to require description. It abounds on all rocky shores, 

 and this in spite of its numerous enemies, for it is perse- 

 cuted to vast extent. They are collected by the bushel 

 for cooking. Fishermen collect them and string them on 



Fig. 87. Chiton discrepans. f Natural size 



wires to bait fish and crab traps. One of the sea birds 

 the so-called " Oyster Catcher " knocks them off the rock 

 with its punch-shaped bill, and scoops out their edible 

 parts, and dog whelks drill holes through their shells and, 

 inserting their protrusible mouth, eat them out. 



It formed an important element in the menu of pre- 

 historic man, when his dwelling was on the coast, for limpet 

 shells are abundant in the old " kitchen middens " that are 

 now and again unearthed. 



The tenacity with which a limpet clings to the rock is 

 a matter of proverb, but the actual force has not hitherto, 



