[ 235 ] , 
abled me to examine its fore part througli a glafs>. 
I fufped; that it was fhedding its fkin, and for this 
reafon was quieter, and had its valves more open 
than ufually ; be that as it will, I fliall now defcribe 
the remarkable animal I obferved. 
The head is broad towards the bottom, but de- 
creafes gradually in bulk, and terminates in a taper- 
ing point ; it .has on each fide a fmall long white 
thread, in the form of antennce. The animal fecms 
to lower and raife the point at plealhre. 
The antennc^^ are about the length of the fliell, 
and reft on a tranfparent cylindrical balis, which 
ends in white long capillary filaments. They ap- ' 
pear to be ftuck on at the extremity of the head, 
but in fail: are tied to the fides, as I have often ob- 
ferved the animal to lower the point of its head to- 
wards its breaft, without the antejince following the 
motion. The fmooth white bivalve has five capil- 
lary threads at each a?itenna, four of which are at 
top, and the fifth fomewhat lower. The fordid ap* 
pears to have ten at each mite/ma ; in feveral, the 
antennce appear yellowida, and their bafis feems to 
confift of four rings. 
It is by means of thefe aJttennce^ which are real 
fins, that the animal changes its pofition, from one 
place to another, being able to move them feveral 
ways j when it has a mind to move faft, they are firft 
extended ftreightways, and appear like two brifties ; 
in an infiant the threads are unfolded, and the ani- 
mal fwims with great quicknefs. As for walking, 
it fometimes joins the threads, fomctimes unfolds 
only a finglc one, and fometimes fcattcrs them about 
all together 3 fometimes it bends them between the 
H h 2 valves. 
