SOLEN RAZOR SHELL. 153 



admirably calculated for movement in this direc- 

 tion, it is unable to advance horizontally. It re- 

 quires a safe retreat and a supply of food ; the 

 former it obtains by withdrawing into its recess, 

 and the latter by ascending its channel when the 

 tide comes in and brings the little marine insects 

 which form its food. The retreat of the Solen 

 is marked by a small depression on the sand ; 

 sometimes the shells are dug out by the fisher- 

 men, but as this is a laborious employment, they 

 are often entrapped by stratagem. For this 

 purpose, at the reflux of the tide, when the men 

 can approach them, a little salt is placed round 

 their perforations, which melting, is mistaken by 

 the animal for the return of the tide, and thus 

 decoyed they elevate themselves in the expecta- 

 tion of finding their prey. So rapid, however, 

 are their actions that great dexterity is requisite 

 to catch them, before they again sink into their 

 retreat, and if they are successful in escaping, 

 they are not easily tempted again to the surface. 

 In many places this animal is valued as food. 

 The name Solen, is derived from the Greek 

 ffwAw (solen) a tube. The French, in allusion 

 to the shape of the shells, call them manches de 

 couteaux. 



SOLEN Siliqua* 

 POD RAZOR SHELL. 



Specific character. Shell straight, subcylin- 

 drical, truncated at one end, and slightly rounded 



* Plate VII. fig. 4. 



