IN FEATHERS AND FUR. 333 
more like a worm than anything else. It is covered, for its whole 
length, with three rows of teeth, pointing backward. These teeth 
are cut into points on the edge, and are for the purpose of cutting 
up the food. The strangest thing about it is, that it is never thrust 
out beyond the lips, and as fast as the teeth on one part get worn 
down, another part comes forward to take their place. 
When the Limpet wants to eat, it sticks out the lips, and forms 
the tongue into the shape of a spoon. The lips then seize the 
food — which is vegetable matter — and with the help of the tongue, 
draw it in and cut it off against the hard upper jaw, sometimes 
making a noise in the operation. The morsel is then passed on 
another tongue, and torn and cut up by the sharp teeth. 
The body of the Limpet is ova , shaped iike the shell, with a 
short, stout proboscis, and a pair of feelers, at the bottom of which 
are a pair of eyes. He also has w T hat is called a foot, a fleshy 
object, which helps him to get around. He don't care, however, 
about getting about much, for he belongs to a very dignified, slow- 
moving family. 
He makes for himself a curious home in the solid rock. It is 
simply a hole, perhaps an eighth of an inch deep, and just the 
shape of his shell. How he makes the hole is not yet positively 
known. In this hole the odd little fellow spends most of his time; 
sometimes with his shell a little raised, and so careless, that if sud- 
denly attacked, he can be easily knocked out. But let him first be 
warned, and scarcely any human power can pull him out. Holding 
on is his way of protecting himself, and he does it in a very 
effectual way. Sea birds are very fond of eating the Limpet, and 
they are wise enough to catch him by pouncing suddenly upon him, 
and driving their beak between him and the rock, before he has 
time to be alarmed. 
How he manages to fasten himself so securely is still a ques- 
tion. Some writers say that it is by suction, as you boys fasten a 
piece of wet leather to a stone ; while others say that if the Limpet 
is cut in two, down through the shell, each half will hold on as we 1 
as the whole. Of course, then, it could not be by suction, and 
therefore another theory had to be formed. This is said to be by a 
very strong glue, which the Limpet himself produces, and by which 
he can instantly fasten himself. This is apparently proved by the 
fact that the rock is found to be sticky where a Limpet has been 
holding, and a little water will dissolve it. The foot of the crea- 
