THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SWAN-MUSSEL. 
15 
bottom of the pool. But even before I had reached here I 
met with an adventure, slight, it is true, but it made me after¬ 
wards very careful, for some monster bore down upon me with 
frightful rapidity, and before I knew what had happened, I had 
been sucked up and blown out of his mouth again with great 
force. Reaching the bottom quickly after this occurrence, I 
lay still for some time and gradually gained in strength until 
I was able, by flapping my valves, to progress along, though 
in no very graceful manner. Seeing one of those monsters 
coming in my direction, I tried to avoid him, but he was too 
quick for me, and actually brushed against me as he passed. 
“ Very soon the continued flapping of my valves made itself 
felt on my delicate constitution, and it was through this that 
I began to think how happy I should be if I could fasten 
myself on one of those long animals with which I was sur¬ 
rounded. I should not have to exert myself in swimming 
about then. How easy I should be carried about from place 
to place! I determined to put my plan into execution at the 
first opportunity afforded me, and by good luck I had not long 
to wait, for soon came sailing by one of the very animals. By 
means of my long byssus I quickly attached myself to his tail, 
I have since learnt that the animal was a fish called Leuciscus 
vulgaris. There were several more about my age, some of 
whom I had known in earlier times, all attached in a similar 
manner, but I did not condescend to notice them—I was too 
busily engaged in looking after myself; and it was now I found 
how useful were the two sharp saw-like apices of my valves. 
I dug them into the substance of the fish, and here I remained 
for some short time in a parasitic condition. The epidermic cells 
of my host grew round and enclosed me, and then a remarkable 
sensation made itself felt all over my body. My alimentary 
canal was becoming more highly perfected, as indeed also was 
my whole internal arrangement; my poor, weak, single adductor 
muscle disappeared, and in its place two new and strong ones 
appeared at opposite ends of my shell. At this time also my 
byssus vanished, only, however, to prepare the way for the 
subsequent enlargement of the foot itself. But besides these 
remarkable changes, very fine filaments began to sprout out 
of the sides of my body, and soon I found myself in possession 
of a pair of the most beautiful and delicate organs you could 
possibly imagine—the gills. After several more changes and 
additions, including the formation of a brand new pair of 
valves—which, by looking at the top* of my shell you will still 
see—I dropped off and sank to the bottom. 
“ I was now in all respects similar to my parents, whose life 
* Umhones. 
