WILD PASTURES 



lescence, but transmit the greens and 

 gold. 



You find many with only the backs 

 of their shells sticking out of the mud. 

 This may be the creature's natural posi- 

 tion, but I find far more of them lying 

 quietly on their sides in the shallow water, 

 rocking gently to and fro in the placid 

 undulations as if they were there but to 

 show me their shining colors. But if 

 you watch one intently for a time you 

 will see him open his shell cautiously 

 and put out one foot. This is his best, 

 for it is all he has and he puts it fore- 

 most. It is very white and clean, and 

 it might as well be called his tongue, for 

 with it he licks his food. It is half as 

 long as he is, and when he has put it 

 out as far as he can, or as far as he 

 dares, a fine white fringe grows on its 

 outer margin. Thus he gathers in mi- 

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