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SHELLS. 105 
der thick bushes, the crevices of rocks, the hollows of decayed — 
trees, or under their bark; beneath stones, amongst moss, or 
in holes in the ground. A little experience will teach the 
naturalist readily to find their retreats. 
FresH Water SHELLs must be sought for, if in deep lakes, 
with a dredge, or if in shallow places, with a tin spoon fixed 
on the end of a stick. This is made of a circular piece of 
tin four inches and a half in diameter, beat concave, and 
then perforated with numerous small holes, not exceeding the 
sixteenth part of an inch in diameter; around this must be 
soldered a perpendicular rim, three quarters of an inch broad, 
and also periorated with holes. ‘To this must be attached a 
hollow tubular handle, three inches long, for the insertion of 
a walking stick. It must have a few holes towards its outer 
| end for passing a string through, to tie it firmly, and prevent 
it being lost. (See plate V., fig. 6.) With this spoon the col- 
lector must rake along the mud at the bottom of ditches or 
ponds, and after bringing a quantity to the surface, he must 
wash the mud entirely away, by shaking the spoon on the top 
of the water, and it will all pass through the holes and leave 
the shells. The sharp edge of the spoon is also useful in de- 
taching aquatic shells from the under surface of the leaves of 
water-plants. 
The large Swan-Muscle (Anadonta Cygnea), and other An- 
adons, generally lie deep in the mud, so that they cannot be 
procured by dredging. I found it necessary to invent a net to 
fish for these. This consisted of an iron-triangle of twelve | 
inches, with a hollow handle fixed on its base, and in this is 
inserted a pole of sufficient length to reach the bottom. It is 
firmly screwed to the handle. A net is attached to the tri- | 
angle either of twine or hair-cloth. The point of the triangle 
should be sharp, so that it may the more easily penetrate the | 
mud, and it is drawn through it in situations where shells are 
supposed to exist. (See plate V., fig. 5.) 
Marine SHELLs.— These are to be found in all seas; some | 
of them inhabit rocks on the shore within high water mark : 
others reside in deep water, and can only be taken by 
dredging, or by the use of a kind of net called in France the 
Gangui, and an instrument called the Rake has also been suc- 
cessfully used. : 
a aes 
