COLLECTING 11 
drilled by the file-like tongue, or lingual ribbon, of Polynices, 
Urosalpina, or Nassa, which thus reach the animal within and 
suck out its substance. Another similar species is Polynices 
(Neverita) duplicata, which extends to the Gulf of Mexico, while 
P. heros is not commonly found below Hatteras. Crustaceans 
are abundant on the sandy beach over its whole breadth. Some 
of the sand-crabs live above tide-mark. Among these is the 
fleet-footed Ocypoda, which is interesting to watch. Often they 
go in numbers to the water’s edge and throw up mounds, behind 
which they crouch like cats, watching for whatever prey the tide 
may bring up. When unable to outrun a pursuer they rush into 
the surf and remain there until the danger is past. The wet 
sand is often thickly perforated with the burrows of the sand- 
hoppers (Orchestia). These often rise about the feet as do grass- 
hoppers in the fields. 
Hippa talpoida is a remarkable crab, somewhat resembling an 
egg. It is not likely to be seen unless searched for by digging 
at the water’s edge. It burrows so rapidly that one must be 
quick to catch it after it is exposed by the shovel. In some 
places the tests of “sand-dollars” are common. The living 
animal may be found buried just below the surface at extreme 
low-water mark. 
The sea-wrack drifted in lines along the shore will repay care- 
ful examination, for here will be found many things belonging 
to other shores and deep water. It is often alive with sand- 
hoppers, which hop away while one searches for less common 
things. Often the most delicate seaweeds, numerous small shells, 
worms, polyzoans, etc., will be found there. 
The surface of the sand-beach is strewn with remains of many 
species, usually beach-worn, but interesting nevertheless as ex- 
amples of species one would like to find in better condition, but 
good specimens of which elude ordinary search or are unobtain- 
able except by dredging. 
Egg-cases form another class of objects which are often 
gathered with no idea of their identity. Of these the most com- 
mon are the long strings of saucer-like capsules which contain 
the eggs of the mollusk Fulgur, those having square edges being 
