jj66 THE RAZOR-SHELLS. 



the tongue assume the form of a ball. The Razor- 

 fish, when lying on the surface of the sand, and 

 about to sink into it, extends its tongue from the 

 inferior end of the shell, and makes the extremity 

 of it take the form of a shovel, sharp on each side, 

 and terminating in a point. With this instrument 

 the animal cuts a hole in the sand. After the hole 

 is made, it advances the tongue still farther into 

 the sand, makes it assume the form of a hook, and 

 with this hook, as a fulcrum, it obliges the shell to 

 descend into the hole. In this manner the animal 

 operates till the shell totally disappears. When it 

 chuses to regain the surface, it puts the termination 

 of the tongue into the shape of a ball, and makes 

 an effort to extend the whole tongue : but the ball 

 prevents any farther descent, and the muscular effort 

 necessarily pushes the shell upward till it reaches 

 the surface, or top of the hole. It is amazing with 

 what dexterity and quickness these seemingly awk- 

 ward motions are performed. 



It is remarkable that the razor-fish, though it lives 

 in salt water, abhors salt. When a little salt is 

 thrown into the hole, the animal instantly quits his 

 habitation. But it is still more remarkable that, if 

 the animal is once seized with the hand, and after- 

 wards allowed to retire into its cell, salt will then 

 be strewed in vain, for the fish will never again 

 make its appearance. If it be not handled, by ap- 

 plying salt, the animal may be made to come to the 

 surface as often as a person pleases ; and fishermen 

 often make use of this stratagem. This conduct 



