248 HOW IS THE BORING OPERATION PERFORMED ] 



fishes were in their turn served in like manner as 

 their leader. In a short time, however, the poor 

 mollusc failed to repulse his enemies, and finally fell 

 a passive victim to their gluttonous propensities. 



Now comes the important question, * How is the 

 boring operation performed V How can this simple 

 animal, with its brittle shell, and soft fleshy body, 

 manage to perforate the sandstone, or other hard 

 substances, in which it lives ? 



For hundreds of years this query has been asked, 

 and various are the replies which from time to time 

 have been given. Singular to state, although speci- 

 mens of the Pholas, and its allies the Saxicavae, are 

 to be procured in abundance in many parts of the 

 kingdom, the subject is not even yet positively 

 settled. 



There have been many theories advanced, some the 

 result of fancy or guess-work ; others, of practical 

 study. All these have their supporters, but none have, 

 by common consent, been adopted by physiologists 

 as the true one. 



Having for several years made this subject a 

 study of personal observation, I believe I may ven- 

 ture to state, that I have succeeded in casting a 

 feeble ray of light upon it; and, although the result 

 of my labours may not be deemed conclusive, I may 

 at least claim some credit for my endeavours to clear 

 up a most difficult, though deeply interesting point 

 in natural history. 



