MUSCLE. 
576 
ing its humble situation, and inability to pro- 
duce any thing worth the notice of the jeweller, 
affords something in its history worthy the obser- 
vation of the naturalist. Nature is not inattentive 
to the wants even of the most insignificant of her 
productions ; and therefore the muscle, which ranks 
so low amongst the inhabitants of the deep, has not 
been forgotten. This helpless animal would be sub- 
ject to be dashed against every rock, and broken 
into fragments by the rude motion of the waves, if 
it were not for an anchor with which she is naturally 
provided, and which, when once thrown out, en- 
ables her to ride out the greatest storms in safety. 
The instrument of motion by which the muscle 
contrives to reach the object it wants to bind itself 
to, is a muscular substance resembling a tongue, 
which is found long in proportion to the size of the 
animal, fn some it is two inches long, in others 
not a third part of these dimensions. This the 
creature has the power of thrusting out of its shell ; 
and with this it is capable of making a slight furrow 
in the sand at the bottom. By means of this fur- 
row it can erect itself upon the edge of its shell, 
and thus continues to make the furrow in proportion 
as it goes forward. The progressive motion of the 
shelf is effected by the tongue, which is stretched 
forward and drawn in alternately, and being of a 
glutinous nature, attaches itself to the sand, so as 
to move the shell by slow degrees, till it reaches the 
destined point. Having determined upon its place* 
of residence, the muscle detaches a number of 
