THE PHOLAS. THE COCKLE. 277 



their dancing shoes with them, so as to produce a tinkling 

 noise. 



Solen. 



NRIETl 



Here is the razor shell (Solen}, which Frederick and I have 

 often picked up by the sea side. 



ESTHER. 



It is. These animals burrow in the sand of the sea shore, 

 ttnd bury themselves in a vertical position, sometimes two 

 feet below the surface. This is a stone-boring animal 

 (P/w/as), which you may often have seen in the rocks. 



HENRIETTA. 



Indeed we have; for we were never able to get one out 

 perfect, they are so wedged in, 



ESTHER. 



Yes; these animals pierce wood and stone, or bury them- 

 selves In the sand. The shell, as you know, is very fragile; 

 but the animals seldom leave the hole which they have bored. 

 They are sought as an object of food. 



HENRIETTA. 



Cannot the common cockle (Cardium) also bury itself] 



It can. "This faculty of being able to sink, when alarmed, 

 with considerable rapidity, and being able to rise again to 

 the surface of a mass of sand beheaped upon them,, are the 

 means of defence given to these shells to guard them from 

 the violence of the breakers of our coasts. The hurricane 

 24 



