T1I.E ECONOMIC MOLLUSCA OF ACADIA. 
105 
a man cannot dig quickly enough in the sand to catch them. Fre- 
quently at low water they may be found at the surface, with about an 
inch of the shell projecting, but if not ap- 
proached quietly and seized quickly they 
are soon out of reach. A method of catch- 
ing Razor-shells, frequently practiced in 
England, is to drop a little salt in the 
burrow, adding a little water to carry 
it down. This is literally putting salt 
on their tails, for they stand head down- 
wards in their burrows. The irritated 
animal always comes to the surface and 
can be seized by the hand. Another 
method is to push down the burrow a stout 
wire, having at its end a barb or hook; 
this pierces the animal and it can be easily 
drawn up. Both of these methods would 
certainly work with our species. 
These animals, like most others which 
cannot move about, feed on microscopic 
plants and animals, which are drawn into 
their bodies with water by one of the fring- 
ed tubes, the other being for the removal of 
waste matters. They are rather fastidious 
in their habitat, requiring clean sand and 
clear water. They are, hence, not found 
on rocky shores nor in estuaries. They 
are eaten by some fishes, principally by 
the Skates. 
. 
Economics, Of Razor-fishes in 
general, Forbes and Hanley tell us, — 
“ They are among the most delicious 
of shell-fish when properly cooked — 
broiling is the best method.” Willis 
says our species is an excellent article 
of food, and they have been sold in 
the Halifax market for one penny Fig. 19. 
each. Mr. J. H. Duvar remarks 
that when olfered for sale at rare 
intervals in Halifax, they have found purchasers among 
epicures. It seems to be entirely unknown as an article of 
-Solen ensis, var. 
Americana. 
Natural Size. 
