A LIVING TRAP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 142, 17 June 1899, Page 5 (Supplement)

A LIVING TRAP.

Some of the largest shells known are found in South Pacific waters. The tridaena is the king of them all. One valve of this enormous creature has been known to weigh 2501b, tand more than one case is recorded where^the tridaena has trapped sharks of considerable size.

A story is also told of a visitor to the South Pacific who one day, in the neighbourhood of a rr-.'f, saw what he supposed to be a great green sea anemone, and attempted to grasp it. But the anemone disappeared, and like a vice the edges of the shell clamped the wrist of the unfortunate traveller, who, to his horror, found himself anchored in a stooping position by his hand.

The tide was rising, not a person was in sight, and there was apparently no possible chance of escape. Fortunately he had a knife, and almost crazed by the pain he began an attack upon the shell, but every thrust he made only caused the powerful animal to clasp hlrn closer and add to his agony.

The only thing to do was to wait and hope that the shell would relax and permit him to. jerk his hand out. Seconds seemed minutes, and minutes hours. The water was rising higher and higher; a gentle breeze had sprung up, and waves began to form that threw the water against the captive.

He had about determined upon a terrible alternative—to cut off his hand to save his life—when the shell relaxed its hold, and with a quick jerk he pulled out the maimed and helpless member and turned in shorewards.