Song of the Seashell

In Victorian times people would visit the seashore, just like people do today, except back then it was different. You see, back then, people believed that the little snails called periwinkles were magic. People believed that if you wished to know the name of your true love the periwinkles would write it out in the mud at low tide. Back then everything had a purpose, even squiggly lines in the mud.

Water surrounded Victorian England just like it does today. Periwinkles have lived there for as long as anyone can remember. Some hitched a ride to America on the Mayflower. They liked America and flourished. Now you can find periwinkles all along the East Coast of America, from Maine to Florida.

I don’t think Americans believe periwinkles are magical creatures anymore. Now if someone wants to find their true love they turn on the computer and sign up with computerized matchmaking services. But what does a computer know of true love?

To keep cool in the summer periwinkles point the tip of their shells at the sun. To warm up in the early morning or late afternoon they turn their shells sideways to the sun. Their shells are their homes. Each has a door that is closed at night and opened during the day. They are vegetarians and are peaceful creatures.

No one knows why periwinkles make spiral shaped homes. Their cousins, Terebra Turritella, are similar to periwinkles, except their shell homes are bigger, longer and  pointier, with many more whorls. Alas. There are no magical stories associated with Terebra Turritella. It’s about time to tella one, don’t you think?