BORER. An animal that bores into the hard parts of other animals, or makes tubular burrows. A tiny sponge of the genus ('Hone perforates an oyster shell, one of these minute organisms inhabiting each perforation. The method of their action is yet a mystery; it is thought, however, to be both chemical and me ehanical — i.e. by secretion and by spinules. Many worms are borers, working not only into the soil, but into sponges and like organisms. The crustaceans are said to bore, but this is an error; they burrow rather—e.g. the crayfish in search of water. One of the marine isopods, the gribble (Lintnonia lignorem), however, is re markable for the damage it does to wharves and other wooden structures in northern American harbors. But the most important borers are the mollusks, particularly the teredo (q.v.) and the family Pholadidfe. A closely allied family (Gastrochxnidx) have the same habit, the most important being the genera Aspergillum and Gastrochana. Lithodomus (see DATE-SIIELL) is another powerful borer. Lyell, in alluding to the alternate upheaval and submergence of the land on the coast, gives us the following fact: On the coast of the Gulf of Naples, near the ancient town of Pozzuoli, are three marble pil lars rising 40 feet above the water, the remains of an ancient temple whose marble pavement still exists many feet below the surface of the hay. For a distance of 12 feet from the water
these pillars are smooth and feee from blemish. Then comes a distance of 9 feet, throughout which the marble is perforated with innumer able holes. At the end of each of these perfora tions may be found the remains of the tiny Lithodonms. The adjacent waters are still filled with the same species. There is a difference of opinion as to the precise manner in which bi valve mollusks bore, but there is little doubt that the foot and adductor muscles afford the motor power and the anterior part of the shell the cutting instrument. Among gastropod. mol lusks several small species are known as 'borers' along the northern American coast, because of their method of perforating the shells of clams. oysters (resulting in serious annual loss to the oysterculturists), and similar victims. This boring of the shell is made with their rasp-like tongue ribbons, and through the perforation the juice of the victim is sucked out. The chief offender in Long Island Sound and New York Bay is 17rosalpinx einerea, commonly called drill. Many worms are borers, perforating sponges, etc. Insects of similar habits are described under BARK-BEETLE; CARPENTER-BEE; and simi lar titles.