The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-08-06

fse-eighths Of IN inch. IL seems TO
grow about two inches in length Q
month. and appears TO live from to 10
months. Between March and Nay the
greater part Of the old ones disappear.
The young make their appearance IN
March. but do not become sbandant
till May. and continue 10 develop until
November. IL il . solitary animal.
II..og in q cell alone, and having 10
communication with IN fellows. II 10
probably bermsphfodite. and like
other low forms Of life is very prolific.
single one depositing from Loo. 900
10 $3.50. 600 egg, in . season. The eggs
arc only hasched by the action Of salt
water. as no young appear when the
water 10 fresh By reason OF rain. IL
they come In contact with Q piece Of
timber that suits their taste they attach
themselves by . { OF or smoker and
enter. making their way by means OF 8
pair o! forceps-iike cutters The cut
ters are q pair OF concave or partly
sphorical shells plsced On each side Of
the head and extending partly over it.
They sre Joined BY . hinge-like joint
ct ons end and free st the other. and
are moved by . firm, strong muscle.
which is attached at the lower edge
In the csnter Of the bead and between
the free edges Of the cuttsrs 10 Q firm
muscular foot or sucker. by which the
animal holds hinself in position for
wosk. beneath the free ends Of the
enters IL the oouth or sri6cs leading
70 the stomach. 70 which further refer.
sncc will be made.
The hole cut for entrance 10 very mi
mute. % small - to b. seen only by the
closest observation. Having entered
the timber and begsn to feed, they eu-
large rapidly. The cavity cut is lined
with . shelly deposit Of csrbnnate Of
lime. to which the animal 10 attached
near the point OF entrance by muscu-
lar coat and ths skin. shutting uut all
wafer except that taken through cansls
10 the body for respiration and lime. At
the tail are two 0ar>shsped bones or
shells, the blades Of which are ribbed
like Gle. the long. round ends extend.
ing inside the body. By means Of the
muscular GOAT attached 10 the lining
she'll it 10 enabled TO project these file
like bones outside the timber. thus re-
moving obstructions. maintaining COM
municstien with the water, and enlarg>
ing the orifice to meet the ingrowing
demands Of the growing animal. II
may also serve IS protection against
ths depredatiens VI other aniuais by
closing the orifics and presenting .
front u solid lime.
In toe operation Of feeding the ters.
do places it's foot, or Sucker. against
the wood. . The two musclss move the
cutters hike psir Of fsrceps for scrap
ers. The chips are carried TO the orifice
or mouth before referred to. and thence
to tho stomach. Open Sh snimsl
freshly taken FROM the water. press the
stomach. aud the contents will flow out
threueh the mouth. Place these under
. powerful microscope and the cuttings
are plainly discernable. Tho stomach
Is brown. otlong $40. little below
the head From its lower end extends
q long intestine. or alimentary canal.
This passes about ons fourth the length
OF the animal downward. and turning
into loop. passes back to the head,
whsro 1t forms another loop beneath
the fnot, or sucker, aud then passing
downward the entiic length of the ami.
nal, discharges Ut tho orlfice between
the two file-like bul,es at the tail.
From this II will be seen that tho teredo
cut timber for food aud not rs burrow.
II 10 also noticed that, on coming in
contact with timber not suitable. it re-
tracts one fourth. moro or less. Of its
length. apd abandoning it's old cell.
cuts branch in another direction, al
ways taking care to buila Q large dam,
or wall across the entrances to the aban.
doned cell. Three different breaches
have bssn cut BY. the same animal.
Early In March few animals may
be found which have just entered the
timber. As the season progresses the
number which have Just entered iu-
crssses until the tirst Of October. From
that time the number decreases rapidly
until the last Of November. Through
December and January none ere found.
Having entered tho timber they grow
In length about 2 inches . month. 10
February and March the largest animals
are found. During April the large
auioals ell disappear. and Only the
smaller onss up 20 foas o. six inches in
length remain. Vlsar. fresh water does
not appsar 10 b necessarily destruc.
tive 70 shsm. - the water Of the bars
along Che eOast has been fresh enough
Tor good drinking purposes BY reason Vi
heavy and ooatinnal rains for two OF
three monthd. and yet they appssred
healthy and vigorous. Il has been sup
posed that the teredo leaves the timber
In search sf other Helds. This probs.
bly, comes from the sudden disappear.
aaoe Of large numbers 10 The spring
AZ thsy are attached 10 the she'll @
firmly ~ TO exclude the entrance Of
water. they can no mora leave Ii than
the oystsr can its shcll. Having fui6ll
"a their mission they die. and frou
sofs. bouelsss constracsios they rapidly
dsoomposs and are vashsd away. issv-
Ing only their shell and cutters
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