FAMILY PECTINID^E — PECTEN. 173 



This is one of the most common shells on the coast of New- York, where it is known under 

 the popular name of Scollop, or Scallop-shell. It abounds on shallow sandy bottoms, and is 

 taken in great quantities for food, the broad and stout muscular portion being the only part of the 

 animal used. This is boiled and put in vinegar, and considered by many as a great delicacy. 

 The shells, which vary very much in the beauty and delicacy of their coloring, are used for orna- 

 mental purposes, such as card-racks, pin-cushions, etc. On a clear calm day, these animals 

 may be seen skipping along to considerable distances on the surface of the water : this move- 

 ment is accompanied by sharp and quickly repeated sounds, occasioned by the rapid opening 

 and shutting of the valves. I have never noticed these movements in adults. They are 

 preyed upon by numerous fishes. 



Pecten islandicus. 



PLATE XL FIG. 206. 



Oslrca islandica. Mulleb, Zool. Dan. prodr. No. 2990. 



Pecten pealii. Coxrad, Amer. Marine Conchology, p. 12, pi. 2, fig. 2. 



P. islandicus. Say, Amer. Conchology, plate 50, fig. 1. 



P. id. Gould, Invertelirata of Massachusetts, p. 133, fig. 89. 



Description. Shell occasionally very large, sub-rounded ; the valves nearly equal. Sur- 

 face covered with numerous scaly radiating lines, alternately smaller. Ears unequal, with 

 radiating ribs. Five to six minute teeth in the angle beneath the emarginate ear. Margin 

 jagged by the produced elevated radiating lines ; intervals between these lines reticulated. 



Color. Reddish or orange, with darker concentric bands and pale broad radiations. Ears 

 with dark red concentric lines. 



Length, 2*0 -3*0. Width, 1-9 -3*0. 



I am not aware that this shell has yet been found on our coast, but it has been obtained 

 from the stomachs of fishes. The banks of Newfoundland appear to be its proper locality 

 on the American coast, and it extends very far north. Conrad observed it on the coast of 

 Maine. 



Pecten magellanicus. 



PLATE XL FIG. 207. a. b. 



Oatrea magellanica. Gmelin, p. 3317. 



Pecten id. Cosrad, Amer. Marine Conchology, pi. 1, fig. 1. 

 P. id. Russel, Essex Jour. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1, p. 62. 

 P. id. Gould, Invertebrata of Mass. p. 132. 



Description. Shell large, orbicular, moderately solid, much compressed ; the upper valve 

 more convex, the lower nearly flat. Ears subequal ; on the upper valve equal : valves gaping 



