466 THE AQUARIAN NATURALIST. 



interest does not generally extend. Sooth to say, 

 there is little in the external appearance of an oyster 

 to kindle enthusiastic admiration. It is anything 

 but a cheerful companion; and were all its conchi- 

 ferous brethren equally motionless and apathetic, 

 their presence in the aquarium could perhaps very 

 well be dispensed with. 



Fortunately, however, this is by no means the 

 case ; on the contrary, many of the Bivalve Mollusca 

 are exceedingly vivacious, and from the vivid beauty of 

 their colours, calculated to adorn, as well as to en- 

 liven, the scene of their operations ; insomuch that we 

 feel ourselves tempted to select at least two or three 

 examples illustrative of their ceconomy. 



The PECTEN or SCALLOP-SHELL " (PL VIII. fig. 9) 

 derives its Latin name from the longitudinal mark- 

 ings with which its surface is covered having some 

 resemblance to the teeth of a comb, that is to say, 

 of certain kinds of combs, which, in obedience to 

 the revolutions of fashion, at intervals make their 

 appearance. Their colours are often extremely beau- 

 tiful ; and from this circumstance, as well as from 

 the elegance of their shape, they have always been 

 favourite subjects both for painting and sculpture. 

 Neither are they without their heraldic significance : 



" For the scallop shows in a coat of arms, 



That, of the bearer's line, 

 Some one in former days hath been 

 To Santiago's shrine." 



" The scallop-shell," says Fuller, " (I mean the 

 nethermost of them, because most concave and most 

 capacious,) was often cup and dish to the pilgrims in 



