THE WATERING-POT SHELL. 
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We now come to the well-known Solenidse, or Razor-shells, so called on account of 
their shape. 
These curious mollusks always live buried in the sand in an upright position, leaving only 
an opening shaped like a key-hole, which corresponds with the two siphon tubes. Those 
who are fond of examining the sand and rocks at low water will doubtlessly have been 
startled and amused by little jets of water which spirt some few inches in height, but never 
reappear. 
These are caused by the Razor-shell ; and if the locality whence the jet started be 
watched, the little keyhole-like orifice will be seen. To catch the mollusks that emitted the 
water is no easy task, but may be managed in two ways. The simplest but roughest method 
is to take an iron rod hooked at the end, plunge it into the sand like a harpoon, and pull 
it out smartly in an oblique direction, bringing with it the shell. This method, however 
it may answer for those who only want the creature for the 
purpose of eating the animal, or using it as bait, is by no 
means suited to those who wish to capture the inhabitant 
uninjured and to experimentalize upon it. These, therefore, 
must employ a different plan. 
In the next family, called (Taper Shells, because the valves 
when closed do not unite completely, but leave a moderately 
wide aperture at the hinder part, the shell is strong, thick, 
and opaque ; the foot is comparatively small, and the siphons 
are united and retractile. 
The Gaper Shell inhabits sandy and muddy shores, and 
is especially fond of frequenting the brackish waters of river- 
mouths, where the streams are sure to bring with them a soft 
deposit of mud and sand. The species which is represented 
in the engraving burrows nearly a foot in depth into the sand, 
and is able to breathe and gain subsistence by the long siphons, 
which just protrude above the surface. In looking at this 
animal, and observing its habits, the entomologist is forcibly 
reminded of the manner in which the rat-tailed maggot, i. e., 
the larva of Eristalis tenax , the great bee-like fly, with 
enormous eyes, is in the habit of hovering for a moment over 
a flower or leaf, settling for a moment, and then darting oif 
again with lightning speed. Like the Gaper Shell, this larva 
spends its life deeply buried in the mud, carrying on the 
business of respiration by means of a long tube which, like 
the siphon of the mollusk, can be retracted or extended at will. 
The Gaper Shell is much sought after in many places as 
an article of food, not only by man, but by birds and beasts, 
such as the walrus and the blue fox. 
GAPER SHELL . — My a arenaria. 
The nearly cylindrical Watering-pot Shell is a curious creature found in some of the 
hotter seas. 
This species is a good example of a family termed the Gastrochsenidse, in which the valves 
are thin, gaping, and when adult, often connected with a rather long calcareous tube, as in 
the present instance. 
The Watering-pot Shell derives its name from the curious perforated disc which closes its 
lower extremity, and bears no small resemblance to the rose of a watering-pot. In allusion to 
the same peculiarity, the French writers call the animal by the name of Arrosoir. All the 
species are burrowers, some into coral, some into stone, some into shells, and others into sand, 
as is the case with the creature which we are now examining. From the other end of the tube 
the siphons can be protruded to some extent, and withdrawn when the animal is alarmed. 
