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Sand Dollar

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sand dollar

[′san ‚däl·ər]
(invertebrate zoology)
The common name for the flat, disk-shaped echinoderms belonging to the order Clypeasteroida.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Sand Dollar

Holy Ghost Shell

Some people consider the sand dollar a natural symbol of the birth and death of Jesus Christ. For this reason it acquired the folk name Holy Ghost Shell. A little poem by an anonymous author, entitled "Legend of the Sand Dollar," explains this symbolism:

There's a pretty little legend That I would like to tell Of the birth and death of Jesus Found in this lowly shell.

If you examine closely You'll see that you find here Four nail holes and a fifth one Made by a Roman spear. On one side the Easter lily Its center is the star That appeared unto the shepherds And led them from afar.

The Christmas poinsettia Etched on the other side Reminds us of his birthday Our happy Christmastide.

Now break the center open And here you will release The five white doves awaiting To spread good will and peace.

This simple little symbol Christ left for you and me To help us spread his gospel Through all eternity.

Further Reading

Lord, Priscilla Sawyer, and Daniel J. Foley. Easter Garland. 1963. Reprint. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, 1999.

Web Site

Many versions of this poem can be found online. The one reprinted above comes from:
Encyclopedia of Easter, Carnival, and Lent, 1st ed. © Omnigraphics, Inc. 2002
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References in periodicals archive
Our previous work has demonstrated that precompetent sand dollar larvae (for definitions, see Hodin et ah, 2015, 2018a) become competent to settle when exposed to 3 minutes of intense fluid turbulence.
According to legend, she explained, the sand dollar is also called the Holy Ghost Shell and is said to tell the story of the birth, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.
The low abundance of the sand dollar during the rainy seasons, and its slight increment in dry seasons cores (Figs.
Industrious triggers repeated the action until the sand dollar landed in the right position.
The sand dollar echinoid Periarchus lyelli (Conrad) is a distinctive and well-known element of the fauna of Upper Eocene (Jackson) marls and limestones across the eastern Gulf of Mexico and lower Atlantic coastal plain.
There's a PADI (Professional Association Of Diving Instructors) resort - the Sand Dollar - which has a range of courses, including boat-dive packages of five days at pounds 211pp or Open Water course at pounds 254pp.
Martin describes Cover Girl NailSlicks as an "easy, breezy manicure in one step." Shades include classic red, pink bliss, plum frost and sand dollar.
The Chumash Indians saw a connection between lines radiating from a sand dollar's mouth and the Sun's rays.
For a more varied experience, the Sand Dollar Beach Resort (85 rooms) features a week-long adventure package that includes nature tours, snorkeling, diving, mountain biking and an unforgettable kayak tour of the island's extensive mangrove forests.
"A sand dollar! I've never beena ble to find a sand dollar."
Key words.--Anatomy, apical system, clypeasteroid, Dendrasteridae, development, eccentricity, echinoid, evolution, periproct, peristome, sand dollar.
We describe the induction of polyembryony in embryos of the sand dollar Echinarachnius parma and the pencil urchin Eucidaris tribuloides in response to elevated temperature and reduced salinity.
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