OF NATURAL HISTORY. 139 



the form of a hook, and with this hook, as a fulcrum, it obli- 

 ges the fhell to defcend into the hole. In this manner the animal 

 operates till the fhell totally difappears. When it choofes to regaia 

 the furface, it puts the termination of the leg into the fliape of a 

 ball, and makes an effort to extend the whole leg ; but the ball pre- 

 vents any farther defcent, and the mufcular effort neceffarily pufhes 

 the (hell upward till it reaches the furface, or top of the hole. It is 

 amazing with what dexterity and quicknefs thefe feemingly awk- 

 ward motions are performed. 



It is remarkable that the fpout-fifh, though it lives in fait water, 

 abhors fait. "When a little fait is thrown into the hole, the animal 

 inftantly quits his habitation. But it is ftill more remarkable, that, 

 if you feize the animal with your hand, and afterwards allow it to 

 retire into its cell, you may ftrew as much fait upon it as you pleafe, 

 but the filh will never again make its appearance. If you do not 

 handle the animal, by applying fait, you may make it come to the 

 furface as often as you incline ; and fifhermen often make ufe of 

 this ftratagem. This behaviour indicates more fentiment and recol- 

 ledion than one fhould naturally exped from a fpout-filh. 



The fcallop, another well known blvalved fhell-fifli, has the pow- 

 er of progreffive motion upon land, and likewife of fwimming on 

 the furface of the water. When this animal happens to be deferted 

 by the tide, it opens its fhell to the full extent, then fhuts it with a 

 fuddenjerk, by which It often rifes five or fix inches from the 

 ground. In this manner it tumbles forward till it regains the water. 

 When the fea is calm, troops, or little fleets of fcallops, are often ob- 

 ferved fwimming on the furface. They raife one valve of their 

 fhell above the furface, which becomes a kind of fail, while the other 

 remains under the water, and anfwers the purpofe of an anchor, by 

 fteadying the animal, and preventing its being overfet. When an 

 I S 2 enemy 



