THE RAZOR-SHELL. 



433 



however it may answer for those who only want the creature for the purpose of eating 

 the animal, or using it as bait, is by no means suited to those who wish to capture the 

 inhabitant uninjured and to experimentalize upon it. These, therefore, must employ 

 a different plan. 



It is sufficiently remarkable, that although the Razor-shell lives in saline water, it 

 has the greatest objection to salt in an undiluted state, and is as much annoyed by 

 that substance as a worm by ammonia or a slug by lime. To catch this creature un- 

 hurt is easy enough, and merely requires that a spoonful of salt should be dropped 

 into the burrow, and the animal adroitly seized as it protrudes itself in anger at the 

 liberty which has been taken with its home. If, however, the intended captor should 

 bungle the attempt, the Razor-shell immediately slips to the very bottom of the burrow 



SCRGBICULARI A . Scroblcularla plperita. 

 SWORD-BLADE RAZOR-SHELL. So/en ensla. 



COMMON TROUGH-SHELL. /tfacfra stultorum. 

 COMMON RAZOR.SHELL.-So/ea vagiau. 



and, even though a pound of salt be expended, will not be induced to show itself a 

 second time. These creatures are generally found at a depth of one or two feet, and 

 when they make their burrows, as they are often in the habit of doing, among the rocks, 

 not even the hooked iron can draw them from their retreat. 



The three figures of the Razor-shells require some explanation. 



At the right hand, and at the bottom of the engraving, the upper part of the common 

 Razor-shell is shown as it appears when at rest and in full feed, the water passing into 

 the system through one of the fringed apertures, and out at the other. The upper figure, 

 lying horizontally upon the rock, represents the same species, for the purpose of show- 

 ing the foot, by means of which the rapid ascent and descent in its burrow is accom- 

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