Shells from the Seaside.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20851, 18 April 1931, Page 4 (Supplement)

Shells from the Seaside.

There is a cliarm about tho gathering of sea-sliclls tliat appeals to every youthful picnicker by tho seashore. Old and young, we all delight in searching tho smooth sands, looking for tho dainty little pink and mauve fan-shells, the little brown-spired hats, tho tiny silver shells that can be threaded into necklets. i wonder how many shells you can name as you pick them up at tho seaside ? Unfortunately, it is but seldom that parents or friends can name the shells that are found.

Two well-known-shells aro the whelk and the limpet. The former is a large spiral, and the latter liko a small inverted saucer, which firmly adheres to the rocks. When the tide is in, the limpet roams far, but it always returns to the same spot. Do you know how tho copkle moves about? It strikes its orange foot against the sea floor and jumps some considerable distance. It occasionally does this on the sand, but normally digs a hole in the sand and lives there. The little jets of sand and water which we seo on the beach are caused by tho cockle breathing inside its burrow. Have you ever found tho shell of purpuralt is a small, spiral s.hell banded with brownish olive, and found among the rocks. In ancient times the kings and noblemen obtained the purple dve for their royal robes from this little shell.

The periwinkle and razor are two favourite shells with children. The former is prettily banded with narrow dark markings, while the razor shell, which is long and narrow, is usually halfburied in the sand.

A queer, spiral shell like a miniature witch's hat, found in profusion on most shores, is the common whentletrap. Nearly all the shells we find are empty because their owners, being tasty morsels, were soon devoured by larger sea creatures. As interesting as are the shells, it is far more interesting to know that all Uiese had living owners. When next at the seaside, seo how many different shells you can find and what their names are. After a little searching you will notice two main types of shells. Some are in one piece (as the whelk) and others have shells consisting of two halves, hinged together, and opening like a book. The latter include the cockles and mussels. The inhabitants of shells possess a thick foi.t, which is their chief means of locomotion. —E. Hardy.