THE PHOLADES. 
227 
opinion, when he comes to observe this mushroom-like figure 
more minutely. He will then see that the animal residing 
Within the shell has not only life, but some degree of voraci° 
ousness. They are seen adhering to every substance that is 
to be met with in the ocean ; rocks, roots of trees, ships’ bot- 
toms, whales, lobsters, and even crabs; like bunches of 
grapes clung to each other. It is amusing enough to behold 
their operations.* They for some time remain motionless 
within their shell ; but when the sea is calm, they are seen 
opening the lid, and peeping about them, they then thrust 
out their long neck, look round them for some time, and 
abruptly retreat back into their box, shut their lid, and 
lurk in darkness and security. Some people eat them ; but 
they are in no great repute at the tables of the luxurious, 
Where their deformed figure would be no objection to their 
being introduced. 
Of all animals of the shelly tribe, the Piio lades are the 
most wonderful. These animals are found in different places ; 
sometimes clothed in their proper shell, at the bottom of the 
Water ; sometimes concealed in lumps of marly earth; and 
sometimes lodged, shell and all, in the body of the hardest 
marble. In their proper shell they assume different figures; 
but, in general, they somewhat resemble a muscle, except 
that their shell is found actually composed of five or more 
pieces, the smaller valves serving to close up the openings 
mfi. by the irregular meeting of the two principal shelfs. 
Hut their penetration into rocks, and their residence there, 
makes up the most wonderful part of their history. 
I his animal, when divested of its shell, resembles a round- 
b soft pudding, with no instrument that seems in the least 
itted for boring into stones, or even penetrating the softest 
substance. It is furnished with two teeth indeed; but these 
are placed in such a situation, as to be incapable of touching 
l he hollow surface of its stony dwelling: it has also two co” 
Ve, s to its shell, that open and shut at either end; but these 
a 'e totally unserviceable to it as a miner. The instrument 
'yitb which it performs all its operations, and buries itself in 
l ‘ le hardest rocks, is only a broad fleshy substance, some- 
what resembling a tongue, that is seen issuing from the 
bottom of its shell. With this soft, yielding instrument, it 
Perforates the most solid marbles ; and having, while yet 
_Utl e and young, made its way by a very narrow entrance 
'Wo the substance of the stone, it then begins to grow 
D| gger, and thus to enlarge its apartment. 
* Anderson's History of Greenland. 
