44 FIRST BOOK OF ZOOLOGY. 



separate, instead of being united. This figure represents the 

 tubes only partly extended. They can be thrown out to 

 twice the length represented in the figure. 



excurrent siphon. 



in current or branchial 

 ^ Hphon. 



Fio. 45. 



Another species qxdte similar to the above occurs on mud 

 flats, in company with the common clam. If this be col- 

 lected alive and placed in sea-water, the creature will extend 

 its siphons, which are long and separate, and bend them in 

 coils. 



43. The pupils have now learned, among other things, 

 a few features regarding the position which certain bivalves 

 occupy in their native haunts : the fresh-water mussel creep- 

 ing by means of its foot through the mud or sand in which 

 it lives partly buried ; the salt-water mussel, fastened to 

 some place by means of its byssus ; the soft-shelled clam, 

 lying buried at some depth in the mud, and extending its 

 siphons to conduct the pure sea-water to its gills, and food to 

 its mouth. 



The oyster differs considerably from these animals to 

 which it is related, and Avhich have just been studied. In- 

 stead of being free, they grow attached by one of their valves 

 to the rock and to each other ; clusters of a dozen or more in- 

 dividuals of different sizes are found growing, attached to 

 each other, and forming large masses. At any oyster-market 



