When you next gather shells on the beach, look at them closely; in some
you will see where Mr. Whelk, the burglar, has been at work. He needs
but a small entrance to enable him to suck out his helpless prey at his
ease. Is it not strange that this creature, with a body as soft as your
tongue, should earn its living by breaking into houses made of hard
shell!
There are other molluscs which find their meals in this strange manner,
and many others which, like the Periwinkle, feed more easily on seaweed.
One of these, the Limpet, you can always be sure of finding at low tide;
indeed, there are so many Limpets on the rocks that it would be hard
_not_ to see them. You will know, if you have tried to force a Limpet
from its hold on the rock, how very tightly it clings. It is as if the
shell were glued or cemented by its edges.
Yet there is no glue or cement used, but only a simple dodge. The Limpet
has a broad "foot," which almost fills up the opening of its shell. Like
the foot of the Snail, it is used when the animal wishes to take a walk;
but it serves another purpose too. It can be used as a sucker; and it is
this which enables the Limpet to cling so firmly to its rock.
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