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XXV. On burrowing and boring marine animals. By Edward 
Osler, Esq. Communicated February 15, 1826, by L. W. 
Dyllwin, Esq. F. R. S. 
Read May 25, 1826. 
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X h e neighbourhood of Swansea offers remarkable facilities 
for observing the habits of the burrowing marine animals. 
Many Spatangi, innumerable Annelides, and a variety of 
bivalves are found on its extensive sandy shores ; consider- 
able beds of decayed wood are inhabited by Pholas Candida ; 
and the rocks at the western extremity of the bay abound 
with Lithophagi. 
My chief object in this paper, is to explain the mechanism 
by which the boring and burrowing shell fish form their 
habitations ; but as there are facts connected with the bur- 
rowing of other marine animals which are yet but imper- 
fectly understood, I shall first advert briefly to the latter. 
The Nereides found in sand bury themselves by the rapid 
undulating motion which they employ in swimming ; and 
they travel through the sand with great facility by extending 
the anterior rings, and bringing up the posterior part of the 
body after them. Their progress is very much assisted by 
the action of their numerous bristly feet. 
The Arenicola piscatorum of Lamarck ( Lumbricus marinus 
of Linnaeus), connects the naked with the sedentary Anne- 
lides. A viscid secretion exudes from the anterior half of 
