There are so many of them that, as they
keep moving, they force the water along, over the gills and towards the
mouth. In this way the Oyster breathes the air which is in the water;
but not only that. As we have already noticed, there is a kind of
"vegetable dust" in the sea. This is driven to the Oyster's mouth and
swallowed. The Oyster, fixed in its "bed," unable to hunt for food, thus
makes its dinner come to it. What a strange use for a "beard"! It not
only serves as lungs, but also helps the animal to catch its "daily
bread"!
Another mollusc used as food is the Cockle, and its shell is one of the
commonest found along the shore, especially near sandy places. It lives
in sand, and can bury itself so quickly that you would have to use your
spade with all your might in order to keep pace with this little
shell-fish. Where Cockles have buried themselves you will see spurts of
water and sand, showing where they are busy down below in the wet sand.
Besides being so skilful at digging, the Cockle is a first-rate jumper.
If left on the beach, it jumps over the sand, towards the sea, in the
funniest way.
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