66 CATECHISM OF CONCHOLOGY. 



tortuous character furnishes us with a clue to the 

 meaning of the generic name, Terpo. 



Q. Are the habits of the inhabitants at all 

 peculiar ? 



A. They are little known, but in this genus, as 

 well as in the preceding one, the animal has been 

 supposed to live with little or no adhesion to his 

 shell. 



CHAP. XXXVIII. 



UNIVALVES: 

 TEREDO; Ship Worm. 



Q. WILL you describe the form of the Teredo ? 



A. The shell is tapering, flexuous, and capable 

 of penetrating wood. One end is closed by two 

 hemispherical, and the other by two lanceolate 

 valves. 



Q. Is not the formation of the Teredo very 

 curious ? 



A, The two small hemispherical valves are 

 attached in pairs to the fore and hind part of the 

 animal ; and at the smaller end of the tube are 

 used as flood-gates, to admit more or less water, 

 according to the wants of the inhabitant. The 

 lanceolate, valves are placed at an angle, and fur- 



