RAZOR-SHELL. 29 



Our cockle, however, is not only a digger, 

 but a jumper, and the same instrument which 

 serves him as a spade to dig a hole in the sand 

 also serves him as a foot by means of which to 

 spring into the air. 



There is another burrowing shell, that is found 

 on most sandy beaches. This is the Razor- Shell 

 (Solen ensis), for a representation of which, see 

 plate B, fig. 7. 



This creature burrows even deeper than the 

 cockle, being often found at the depth of two 

 feet. It does not, however, seem fond of sinking 

 thus low, but generally remains sufficiently near 

 the surface to permit the tube just to project 

 from the sand. The burrow in which the animal 

 lives is nearly perpendicular, and in it the Solen 

 passes its entire life, sometimes ascending to the 

 surface, and sometimes descending to the bottom 

 of its burrow, for it has none of the locomotive 

 faculties of its fellow-miner, the cockle. But 

 although its range of travel is circumscribed, the 

 narrowness of its habitation is compensated by 

 the activity of its movements therein. The 

 fisherman who wishes to capture the creature 

 is aware of its agility, and takes measures accord- 

 ingly. As the tide retreats he watches for the 

 jet of sand and water which the animal throws 



