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OF BJVALVED SHELL FISH, OR THOSE OF THE 

 OYSTER KIND. 



OF THE MUSCLE. 



It is well known that the muscle, whether belong- 

 ing to fresh or salt-water, consists of two equal shells, 

 joined at the back by a muscular ligament that answers 

 the exact purpose of a hinge ; and to one of these 

 shells the fish is united, and can open or shut them at 

 its will. Like other animals of this species, it is fur 

 nished with vital organs, though they are most sin- 

 gularly placed. The mouth is formed by two fleshy 

 lips, and the intestines pass through the brain ; after 

 which they make a number of circumvolutions through 

 the liver, and from thence pass on to the heart. 

 \ The muscle possesses a kind of self-creating quality, 

 which occasions the abundance in which they are found; 

 for as the crab, the cray-fish, andAhe trochus, all de- 

 vour them, if they did not propagate in numbers there 

 would soon be an end of the race ; but, notwithstand- 

 ing the number of this creature's enemies, it has more 

 reason to dread the element in which it resides, for 

 whenever that experiences any violent agitation, thou- 

 sands of them are dashed against the rocks and de- 

 stroyed. In order, in some degree, to guard them 

 against such accidents, it is endowed with a beard, or 

 a number of thin threads, which it can extend beyond 

 the shell, and attach to any object on which it either 

 chooses to fasten or feed. 



The instrument the muscle uses to produce its mo- 

 tion is - a muscular substance, in form resembling a 

 tongue, which sometimes measures two inches, and at 

 ©thers not a third part of that length ; this useful little 



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