The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-10-15

species or which all belong TO the
Eastern seas. and it is an excellent
example OF that degeneracy which oc-
ours in certain moilusks. The young
Magilus begins life as well behaved
mollusk. with a regular spiral she'll.
but shortly it settles down on some
growing coral, and then race begins
between the two slow growing forms.
IL the mollusk kept quiet and grew
no further a short time would suffice
to completely envelop it in the stony
coral; but as soon as he is partly COW
cred the whorls of the she'll leave
their spiral course, and grow out as
an irregular tube. AS the coral
grows, new additions are made to
the shell, and the neck-and-neck race
is kept up until one or the other dies.
After the tube becomes too long for
the mollusk he leaves the spiral por-
I'tion and comes QUITO live in the outer
straight tube. filling up the deserted
whorls with solid deposit of lime.
In Sea Urchin's Spine.
"The sea urchin is protected by
|
numerous sharp spines which project
in all directions, Strange to relate,
small mollusk frequently hollows
| out the interior OF one Of the spines
and uses it as home, thus provid-
ing for its own safety, as but few dem
liens of the sea would be hardy
enough to attack the armored sea
urchin.
"Along the shores of the North
Atlantic Ocean is found worm
(Phascolosoma coementarium) which
takes possession of dead shell of
some mollusk like the hermit crab,
but as the aperture is always too large
for its body, it builds out the rim of
the aperture until only small, round
opening is left, through which the
worm can stretch forth the anterior
extremity of its body, or withdraw
into the shell it has appropriated for
it's dwelling 1t lives permanently in
it's borrowed home, dragging 1t about
| by the powerful contractions of its
body. The material with which the
worm SO skilfully patches out the
shell so as to construct the mouth
thereof is a hard and durable COM
position of sand and mud, cemented
together by secretion of the ami
NAL When the worm grows too
large for it's habitation, instead of
exchanging it for larger shell, as
do the hermit crabs, it gradually ex-
tends its tube outward from the
mouth of the she'll
"In Indian seas are frequently
dredged little solitary corals. These
corals are shaped something like
small, thick disks, and in the base of
Thorn there is usually embedded and
concealed dead moTlusk she'll which
serves as a home for an active little
worm. This arrangement is of mu-
tual advantage as the worm, by
thrusting out one end of it's muscular
| body as lever, is able to whisk it.
self and the coral about from place to
place.
"The large jelly fishes, which are
found in almost all seas, and which
float at or near the surface in almost
countless numbers, shelter many
marine animals under their umbrella
and among their numerous tentacles.
A small Caranx fish, numerous crus-
taceans, several species of mollusks,
and, strange to relate, even other
jelly fishes, find refuge under this
floating house. One of the most
curious of these denizens is little,
white shrimp, with enormous lustrous
green eyes, which lives and rears its
family in the sheltering arms of it's
host AS the jelly fish kills more
food than it can devour, the shrimp
lives on the remnants.
"In East Indian seas branching
zoophyte, creatures resembling the
dead mems fingers of our New Eng
land coast, are common. This animal
runs what might be termed lodging
house. as hidden among its numer-
Gus bright pink branches may be
found many species Of crustaceans, in
every instance the ledger being col
ored similarly to its host, and so long
as it remains quiet is perfectly in
visible to its numerous enemies. The
sea lily, which is striped in alternate
bands of yellow and purple, also gives
shelter to similarly striped crus-
taceans and worms. New York
Tribune.