SHORES OF THE CLYDE AND FIRTH, 
19 
state before final adhesion takes place, no bigger than a 
small caraway seed, it is again liable to break adrift and 
become once more a waif upon the waters, just like a 
human waif cast upon the sea of life to seek for itself 
sustenance and a home. Being provided, however, with very 
inadequate means of locomotion, viz., a very small conical- 
shaped foot, with which it lays hold of objects and drags 
itself along, the wanderings of necessity are confined, slow 
and wearisome, and very early it takes up its abode in the 
bed or rocks of its native beach. 
The walking process of the young mussel is a most 
interesting sight to see. When inclined to move, the foot is 
THE MUSSEL. 
protruded from its place in the interior, and, according to 
requirements, can be elongated to fully the length of the 
shell ; it is then thrown out along the surface of the plane 
or incline on which the creature lies, to which it adheres in 
a suction fashion ; the foot is then drawn into the interior, 
and the whole body thus dragged along. 
If in a frisky mood, it is amusing to see the back jerk it 
is able to perform, and whether inclined to take the perpen- 
dicular or oblique, it always maintains its equilibrium. By 
what is called the byssus, it attaches itself to its life-long 
position, and defies the strength and fury of the fiercest 
storms to uplift it from its place. The byssus springs from 
