SHORES OF THE CLYDE AND FIRTH. 
43 
complete a circle as tlie legs of the compasses can describe. 
Is this by accident ^ Oh, no ; it is the work of the dog 
whelk, which we shall presently see, performed by a most 
complete and wonderfully-constructed tool the Great 
Designer has specially provided it with for the purpose. 
A few steps further southward and we are into harder 
ground. Here the creatures are more numerous. One 
large yellow-tinged fellow, at our feet, is making for the 
clump of mussels hard by — the pace is slow, but no 
obstacle in his way bars his progress. His broad white 
foot we see is beautifully speckled with a vandyke brown 
colour; and through the notch of the shell a dark horn- 
like instrument protrudes, turned upwards in swan-neck 
fashion, and is waving from side to side like the head of a 
horse labouring under a heavy burden. Some naturalists 
maintain that this is the creature's wimble. Oh, no; the 
wimble is quite a different instrument. This is simply 
a feeler or feeder that can be formed on, or protruded 
from, a particular spot on the fringe or mantle that 
encircles the inner portion of the foot. On inspection we 
find this instrument running to a point or snout, some- 
thing like a duck's neb reversed; and following the under- 
side of the bend, we see two distinct edges running together 
till the notch in the shell is reached, where it widens 
gradually into a gutter, and at the touch of the finger, 
as the animal withdraws, the instrument within the tube- 
like appearance spreads into the web, and can only be 
traced there by the black round edge assuming the shape 
of a miniature meal scoop. 
I am of opinion that this instrument acts in the water 
as a feeder in sucking or gathering in whatever animal or 
vegetable matter may come its way. I have mentioned 
vegetable matter, for I believe though these creatures are 
