176 SOLEN. RAZOR-SHELL. Class VI. 



I am not acquainted with the natural history 

 of the sixth and seventh. The four first lurk 

 in the sand near low-water mark, in a perpen- 

 dicular direction : and when in want of food, 

 elevate one end a little above the surface, and 

 protrude their bodies far out of the shell. At 

 approach of danger, they dart deep into the 

 sand, sometimes at lest two feet. Their place 

 is known by a small dimple on the surface. 

 Sometimes they are dug out of the sand with a 

 shovel ; at other times are taken by a bearded 

 dart suddenly struck into them. They were 

 used as a food by the antients. AthencEiis* 

 (from Sophron) speaks of them as great delica- 

 cies, and particularly grateful to widows : 



Mcckooc) Koy^at cwAevej rovnya, 



TXvxoxgewv Koy^vXiov %^av y^ctiKuv Xiyxvsvpa, 



Oblongae concha? solenes, et carne jucunda , 



Conchylium, viduarum mulierum cupedise. 



These are often used as a food at present; 

 and brought up to table fried in eggs. 



* Lib. iii. p. 86. 



