22 THE SEA-SHORE 



and is generally about an inch and a half in length, 

 with several high ridges running down it from the 

 top to the bottom, and a number of smaller ridges 

 running crosswise between them. 



You would not think that this could be a very 

 dangerous creature, would you ? It looks as harm- 

 less as it can possibly be, and certainly you need 

 not be in the least afraid to pick up a sting 

 winkle if you find one crawling about, for it cannot 

 injure human beings. But to other shell-bearing 

 molluscs it is a very terrible foe indeed. I daresay 

 that you have often noticed, when you have been 

 picking up shells on the sea-shore, that a good 

 many of those shells had small round holes bored 

 through them. Well, those holes were pierced by 

 a sting winkle. For this animal is a creature of 

 prey, and feeds entirely on other animals which 

 live in shells; and when it meets with one it 

 fastens itself to its victim's shell, and drills a hole 

 right through it by means of its tooth-ribbon. 

 It then pokes the tooth-ribbon through the hole 

 into the body of the animal inside, and draws it 

 back again. As it does so, of course, the sharp 

 hooked teeth drag away little bits of the animal's 

 flesh, which the sting winkle swallows. It then 

 pokes its tooth-ribbon down again into the body 

 of the victim, and so on, over and over again, 

 until its hunger is satisfied. 



