Often I will pick up interesting pieces of seashells while beach-combing. Â I’m getting better at identifying the pieces. Â The more variety of shells I collect, the easier it becomes. Â If the bit of shell baffles me at the seashore, I search it out in my favorite seashell book, or look through my seashell collection.
Seashells break for many reasons and some shells are more fragile than others. Â The Channeled duck clam is thin and most of them are broken on top. Â (It’s the white shell in the left-hand photo below.)
Usually it’s the surf and wave action that tumbles the shell until it breaks. Â Birds can be the culprits too. Â Whatever the reason, it can challenge the mind to picture bits as whole shells. Â Usually I am sorry I missed seeing it as a whole, beautiful specimen.
While visiting Ponce Inlet, I brought home this large, smooth, brown bit of shell, and a smaller piece like it. Â I wondered what it could have been originally. Continue reading “Identifying Pieces of Seashells Found on the Beach”
