A Seaside Museum 



185 



sea animals, in forming the same production, is very different. 

 Spiders, caterpillars, &c, form threads of any required length, 

 by making the viscous liquor, of which the filament is formed, 

 pass through fine perforations in the organ appointed for 

 spinning. But the pinna and mussel form their threads in 

 a mould situated within the organ, which determines the 

 length of each filament. The work of the land animals, there- 

 fore, may be likened to that of the wire-drawer, while the 

 labour of the sea animals may be compared to those of the 

 founder, who casts metals in a mould." The silk is most 

 abundant in some of the large pinna or fan shells. In early 

 times it was woven into articles of dress for royal personages, 

 nowadays chiefly for curiosities. At a few places in Italy 

 the silk is still woven, with real silk, into gloves and stockings, 

 but the industry is gradually dying out. 



The curious little cylindrical shell, Helix acuta (formerly 

 known as Bulimus acuUis), which frequents sandhills on the 

 south and west coasts of England, also Abergele in North 

 Wales, Tenby in South Wales, and Cork and Portmarnock 

 in Ireland. It is of great interest as being one of the few 

 survivors of an ancient fauna which reached this country long 

 ages ago from South-west Europe. It never occurs below 

 high-water mark, but it dies if taken to an inland district. 



VI. Star-fish, Sea Urchins, &c. — Various specimens in 

 alcohol, including the Shetland Argus, Common Sea Urchin, 

 Star-fish, Sand-star, &c. Dried specimens of Sea Urchins 

 with and without spines. Dissected jaws of Sea Urchins. 

 Fossil examples of Star-fish (Ophiodevma egertoni, from the 

 Lias) and Sea Urchins (Cidaris vesiculosa, Micraster, &c, 

 from the Chalk). 



The objects mentioned above are almost all easily procured, 

 and they would constitute a very respectable nucleus for a 

 Seaside Museum. They should, of course, be supplemented 

 by a Vivarium, and should be displayed without crowding, 

 and well labelled. Illustrations, plates and engravings might 

 be multiplied almost indefinitely and with but little cost. 



