Andrew
Interesting choice of phrase -  "defaming".  It's odd how we tend to think
of scavengers as somehow less worthy of our admiration.  I guess it's a
natural reaction (maybe we picture ourselves eating roadkill and get a
little grossed out at the idea!).   Of course we know logically that
scavengers are an extremely important part of the natural cycle.  Sometimes
when I see a dead animal I feel sad, but then I feel better when I see the
various birds and animals making use of the carcass to feed themselves and
their young.  Death feeds life.

Nora
Calgary, Alberta
CANADA

Kay Lavalier wrote:

> Andrew Vik
> Tampa, FL, USA
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Dear Bob, Patty, and Paulino:
>
> Thanks for sharing your knowledge of Marginellids. I did not mean to
> defame the entire family (actually now considered 2 families) as
> scavengers, I just had that mistaken impression of Marginella apicina in
> particular. Paulino's explanation of the dragging behavior sounds good.
> It's kind of like a leopard dragging its prey up a tree to keep it away
> from the other cats. We can learn a lot from watching live molluscs.
>
> Yours, Andrew