277 



any hard substance they fall upon* These are co- 

 vered with a shell in two or three days, and in three 

 years the animal is large enough to be brought to the 

 market. 



The Scallop is particularly remarkable for its me- 

 thod of moving forward upon land, or swimming upon 

 the water. When it finds itself deserted by the tide, 

 it moves towards the sea in a most singular manner. 

 It first gapes:with its shell as widely as it can, the 

 edges being often an inch asunder ; then it shuts them 

 with a jerk, and by this the whole animal rises five or 

 six inches from the ground. It thus tumbles any how 

 forward, and renews the operation until it has attained 

 its journey's end. When in the water it is capable of 

 supporting itself on the surface ; and there opening 

 and shutting its shells, it tumbles over and over, and 

 makes its way with some celerity. 



The Razor-shell has a very different kind of motion* 

 As the former moves .laboriously forward, so the razor- 

 shell has only a power of sinking downward. The 

 shells of this animal resemble nothing so much as the 

 haft of a razor ; and by this form it is enabled to 

 dive into the soft sand* All its motions are confined 

 to sinking or rising a'footdownwards or upwards inthe 

 sand, for it never leaves the spot where first itwas plant- 

 ed. From time to time it raises about half way out of its 

 hole : but if any way disturbed sinks perpendicularly 

 down again. Just over the place where the razor 

 buries itself, there is a small hole like a chimney, 

 through which the animal breathes or imbibfs the 

 sea -water. Upon the desertion of the tide, these 

 holes are easily distinguished by the fishermen; and 

 their method of enticing the razor up is by sprinkling 

 a little sea-salt upon the hole. This melting, no sooner 

 reaches the razor below, than ii rises instantly, and 

 shews above half its length above the surface. This 

 appearanc. is instantaneous ; and if the fisher dues 

 not seize the opp<jrtunity 3 the raz')r buries itself 



