THE MUSCLE. 
221 
power of redress. In order to guard against these, which 
are to this animal the commonest and the most fatal acci- 
dents, although it has a power of slow motion, which we 
shall presently describe, yet it endeavours to become sta- 
tionary, and to attach itself to any lixed object it happens 
to be near. For this purpose it is furnished with a very 
singular capacity of binding itself by a number of threads 
to whatever object it approaches; and these Reaumur sup 
posed it spun artificially, as spiders their webs, which they 
fasten against a wall. Of this, however, later philosophers 
have found very great reason to doubt. It is therefore sup- 
posed that these threads, which are usually called the beard 
of the muscle, are the natural growth of the animal’s body 
and by no means produced at pleasure. 
Its instrumentof motion, by which it contrives to reach the 
object it wants to bind itself to, is that muscular substance 
resembling a tongue, which is found long in proportion to the 
size ol the muscle. In some it is two inches long, in others 
not a third part of these dimensions. This the animal has 
a power of thrusting out of its shell; and with this it is ca- 
pable of making a slight furrow in the sand at the bottom 
% means of this furrow it can erect itself upon the edge 
ot its shell ; and thus continuing to make the furrow ?n 
proportion as it goes forward, it reaches out its tongue, that 
answers the purpose of an arm, and thus carries "its shell 
edg e . W ays, a sin a groove, until it reaches the point intended. 
I here where it determines to take up its residence it fixes 
l he ends of its beard, which are glutinous, to the rock ot 
the object, whatever it be ; and thus, like a ship at anchor, 
braves all the agitations of the water. The beards have 
een seen a foot and a half long ; and of this substance the 
'tatives of Palermo sometimes make gloves and stockings. 
r These shell-fish are found in lakes, rivers, and in the sea. 
I hose of the lake often grow to a very large size but they 
seem a solitary animal, and are found generally separate 
porn each other. Those of rivers are not so large ; but yet 
Jl 1 greater abundance ; but the sea muscle is in most plenty. 
Hiese are often bred artificially in salt water marshes that 
are overflowed by the tide ; the fishermen throwing them in 
at the proper seasons ; and there, being undisturbed by the 
agitations of the sea, and not preyed upon by their powerful 
er temies at the bottom, they cast their eggs, which soon be- 
c ome perfect animals, and these are generally found in 
c usters of several dozen together. It requires a year for the 
Peopling a muscle-bed ; so that, if the number consists of 
01 ty thousand, a tenth part may annually be left for the 
peopling the bed anew. Muscles are taken from their beds 
