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SNAIL-SHELL. 59 |
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tremely thin and light, and I think it will amuse you to hear of the curious contrivance, by which it is enabled either to remain on the surface of the water or descend below it. It is endowed with the wonderful power of raising at will a tiny bag inflated with air, by means of which it floats ; but, when to descend is the object, it is lowered or cast off, and the little animal disappears. They are often seen by voyagers floating together in great numbers, many hundred miles from land."
" How surprising !" said Edward, " and how beautiful they must look, either by night or day ! But I need not wish to go abroad for the sake of the purple-ocean snail-shell, when I can see so grand a sight at home." |
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