. Dwellers of the sea and shore . MUSSEL ATTACHED TO A ROCK. In turning to the common prey of the moon snail we find that this bivalve differs as greatly in its habits as in its appearance. It is possessed of two shells, or valves, equal in shape and size. These shells are hinged, and when viewed from the side are slightly tri- angular, are rounded, and are about twice as long as they are w^ide. Sometimes they attain to a length of five or more inches, but more commonly they are three inches long. In the living animal they are dark, almost black, but exposure soon turns them to a pearl gray. N
. Dwellers of the sea and shore . MUSSEL ATTACHED TO A ROCK. In turning to the common prey of the moon snail we find that this bivalve differs as greatly in its habits as in its appearance. It is possessed of two shells, or valves, equal in shape and size. These shells are hinged, and when viewed from the side are slightly tri- angular, are rounded, and are about twice as long as they are w^ide. Sometimes they attain to a length of five or more inches, but more commonly they are three inches long. In the living animal they are dark, almost black, but exposure soon turns them to a pearl gray. Now the mussel is usually content to remain rooted to one spot the greater part of its life, which it does by attaching itself, when young, to any solid object by means of numerous tough silken threads, called byssii.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookpublishernewyorkt, booksubjectmarineanimals