242 A STROLL BY THE SEA-SIDE. 
natural opening. The eggs are laid in little oblong Y° 





















this reason one will find them oftentimes in abundance neat 
high-water mark. When kept in an aquarium, they are con 
tinually crawling up the sides of the vessel, and out of it 
completely. Plate 6, figs. 6, 7, represent the shell and ani- 
mal. aoe 
The common Cockle (Purpura lapillus), Plate 6, figs. 8 
9, is another very common species on our coast, and a Vey 
interesting collection can be made by selecting the different 
varieties of the shell. Some of the shells are quite solid, 
and either white in color, or variously banded with brown 
or yellow; now and then a specimen is found of a rich ye 
low; others are quite thin and delicate, with the 0 
covered with little scales, or imbrications. The animal 
white, and the operculum is a rich brown or reddish. 
This species is carnivorous in its propensities, and 
its sharp rasp-like tongue, will drill the neatest round holes 
in the shells of other species, and through the hole this 
made devour the contents. The empty shells of the coe 
kle’s victims, or of other carnivorous species, may alway 
be recognized by the little countersunk hole in the shell 
The mussel seems to be a favorite food of the cockle. 
has been ascertained that it requires two days for the 0 
to drill through the shell of the mussel, and, after the am 
dies from -this rude treatment, the shell gapes ope?» ® ie 
cockle then feeds upon the soft parts within, throug* ; 
colored capsules, which they deposit in clusters on t% 
(Plate 6, fig. 9a). Each little capsule contains from wi: 
to thirty young, which eat their way out thro gh He 
when fully developed. The cockle was supposed to A 
species from which the celebrated Tyrian purple ya 
tained. At all events, there is a coloring matter e*" 
from the living animals, which is at first yellowish, but 
exposure to the sun’s rays, will gradually changes 
through various shades of green and violet, then T 
and finally to a crimson. It is often used for bait 2 

