New-York tribune., 1901-09-08

the shells on the banks near by. where muskrats
have gathered for social feast at midnight. AS
he grows older he will ponder deeply upon the un-
selishness which could prompt and the self-con-
troll which could enable the uupretentiOuS musk
rat to make provision for the banquet and share
it with his friends He has probably noticed. too,
that where a clam has perished IN the water the
two shells commonly remain together. like the
empty covers of an old book. while at the remains
of a muskrats supper they are always cut apart,
unless the muskrats were frightened away before
the meal completed These muskrat epicures
learned long ago how TO open clam by cutting
the Hgature along the back and the muscle that
holds the she'll tightly together when the clam
shuts itself up.
Every such boy has seen. too. a long line or
little furrow in the sand. under water. sometimes
nearly straight sometimes in graceful curves. and
has often found. end. the clam that made
1t. upright edge half buried in the sand but
perfectly still and tightly closed 1t was walking
in the sand until the boy came splashing along
then it shut up. and craftiy looked like clam II
it is left alone and everything is quiet for a long
time. IT will begin again-very slowly. OF
course. but it move. and the way 1t Is
way of walking.
The two shells of mussel. fresh water clam.
alike-that Is. the creature is symmetrical
at least externally. \ narrow line of tough. feshy
substance. called the Hgature holds the shells to-
gether along the back much the leather bind
ing of book holds together the two covers The
clam open and close his shells he pIeases.
and when all is quiet around him he changes from
his unsocial clamlke attitude toward the world.
and begins TO relax and expand little First.
after opening his shell, he puts out two fringe
like pieces behind. and begins to take good. long,
full breathS again. For each fringe has a tube.
"OrthCe,' in IL. and through the lower tube the
clam draws in a current Of water which he drives
out through the upper tube So these tubes have
been named the tncurrent oriffce and the
Orifce. They not very hard words TO remem-
Der when understand the direction of the move
ments OF water that they stand for. Water con-
tains air and the clam breathes this air. fishes
do, and some snatls and other creatures TINT live
In the water The water flowing In also brings
with il tiny objects suitable for food. which
carried along to the clans stomach, and thus
means of current OF water
one might suppose that a creature whose fool
10 il already prepared would have no need to
down while still very young and never srirs from
home again, but the clam finds IL worth MS whils
to move about. even though his steps are slow and
his journeys short The clans DOsffOn
is edge. about half buried in the sand with the
hinge of its shell uppermOSt, with its frfnges pro-
truding slightly behind and with the two shells
parted little beneath Between these the clam
puts its foot and works II into the sand below
This foot is soft and seemingly shapeess but
capable OF expansion and contraction 10 a remark
able degree, and very strong. IL is stronger rel
atively, than the propeller of steamship for while
the propeller drives the vessel through water this
soft shapeless mass. called foot. able 10 push
the CLAIMS body through the compact sand at the
bottom OF the stream or pond
II some OF these fresh water clans mussels.