MOLLUSCA. 1 79 



an ordinary observer would say it was much longer 

 than wide). On the coasts of Scotland, where the 

 specimens are very fine, they constitute an article of 

 food. 



Pecten maximus, or the common Scallop, fre- 

 quently met with on our coasts, is also an edible 

 species, and, when properly cooked, is considered a 

 delicacy. Other species of Pecten, more beautiful, 

 are sought as ornaments, and employed as such in 

 different ways. I have seen elegant ladies' purses 

 constructed with these shells. In the same manner 

 are the pretty little pink and yellow shells of the 

 Tellina (common enough on some of our coasts), 

 utilized in the shops to construct various kinds of 

 ornaments, to decorate workboxes, pincushions, etc. 



The largest shell known is 

 that of the immense oyster, Tri- 

 dacna gigas, which inhabits the 

 Indian seas. It is known in Eng- 

 lish as the Clamp-shell ; the 

 French term it benitier, because 

 one of its valves resembles the fount 

 which contains the holy-water (Fig. 

 21) in Eoman Catholic churches.* The smaller 



* The two holy-water founts (benitiers) in the church of St. 

 Sulpice, Paris, are valves of the Tridacna. They were presented 

 by the Venetians to Fra^ois I. A friend of mine has an elegant 

 ornament for cards, letters, etc. : in the place of the wooden cross 

 (Fig. 21), is a statuette of Venus rising from the sea. 



