ANECDOTE. 171 



return home I placed them in a common tumbler, 

 and waited patiently to see the result. My object 

 was, if possible, to witness the manner in which this 

 animal grows its beard. 



In less than five minutes an industrious little 

 fellow, whom we will call No. 1, gently opened his 

 shell, and immediately protruded his fleshy foot until 

 it reached a length of nearly two inches. So far as 

 I could determine, the design of the Mussel was to 

 discover, in the first place, what kind of a lodging he 

 occupied; whether or not he had any companions; 

 and also, to know if these or any other objects could 

 be found worthy of his attachment. 



Sometimes the foot would be protruded under the 

 shell, then in a contrary direction. Or by an 

 exertion of the strong muscular power which that 

 organ possesses, the entire shell would be lifted off 

 the ground and urged forward to a considerable dis- 

 tance. Of course he soon come in contact with a 

 neighbour Mussel,, whom we may term No. 2, but as 

 the latter was not anchored by any byssus, he was 

 speedily pushed on, and on, until No. 3 was met, 

 and the latter, in his turn, made to take up a new 

 position. 



Being tired cf wandering about, No. 1 then ex- 

 tended his foot along the base of the vase to a 

 certain point, and there let it rest for a few seconds. 

 When again withdrawn, to my great delight, I saw 

 the first thread of a new byssus had been constructed. 



