. Economic mollusca of Acadia . Fig. 8. -Lunatia Jieros. Natural Size, found up the St. Cioix River at the Raven's Head and perhaps further. On the flats of Oak Bay, especially on the borders of the deeper parts, it is exceedingly abundant, and there its habits may be easily watched. It not only lives on the surface, but beneath it, the great expanded muscular foot enabling it to burrow readily. Everywhere on the flats around our coast, there may be found valvi s of Mussels, Clams and other shells, many of which show a neatly bored round hole, one sixth of an inch in diameter. These are the re
. Economic mollusca of Acadia . Fig. 8. -Lunatia Jieros. Natural Size, found up the St. Cioix River at the Raven's Head and perhaps further. On the flats of Oak Bay, especially on the borders of the deeper parts, it is exceedingly abundant, and there its habits may be easily watched. It not only lives on the surface, but beneath it, the great expanded muscular foot enabling it to burrow readily. Everywhere on the flats around our coast, there may be found valvi s of Mussels, Clams and other shells, many of which show a neatly bored round hole, one sixth of an inch in diameter. These are the remains of the victims oH Lunatia. Gra«ping the shell with its powerful foot, it rasps a hole through it with its file-like tongue, inserts its proboscis, and sucks out the juices and soft parts. Not only bivalves, but various Gasteropods* are attacked by it, and it is said even its own young. It even attacks successfully the great Beach-cbim (Jfactra solidisfiwia). It also feeds upon dead fish. Small specimens are frequently found resembling this species in .shape, but .showing three revolving •chestnut-colored bands. These are now considered a variety of L. heros, and are called var. trherinta. Its egg-masses Jippropriately called "Sand-saucers" are quite common on the flats. The eggs are arranged in a " mass of sand glued together into the shape of a broad bowl, open ?The writer saw last summer, at Oak Bay. a larpre Bnccimnn nndafutii which liad been attacked by a Li(no<(« little larger than itself. Though the boring had not commenced, the former was completely enclosed by the foot of the latter and had its aperture quite covered with a sticky slin e. It at first seemed dead, but on toeing placed in water revived and seemed none the worse for its adventure.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectmollusks, bookyear188
