ANATOMY OF THE LAMELLIBRANCHIATA. 123 



As an article of food the fox squirrel is apparently equally 

 good with any other species, although I have observed that 

 the little Carolina squirrel is usually preferred, as being more 

 tender and delicate. Where however squirrels are very abun- 

 dant, men soon become surfeited with this kind of food, and 

 in Carolina, even among the poorer class, it is not generally 

 preferred. 



This species, like all the rest of the squirrels, is infested 

 during the summer months with a troublesome larva, which, 

 fastening itself on the neck or shoulders, must be very annoy- 

 ing, as those most affected in this manner are usually poor, 

 and their fur appears thin and disordered. It is however less 

 exposed to destruction from birds of prey and wild beasts 

 than the other species. It leaves its retreat so late in the 

 mornings and retires so early in the afternoons, that it is wholly 

 exempt from the depredations of owls, so destructive to the 

 Carolina squirrel. I have seen it bid defiance to the attacks 

 of the red-shouldered hawk (Falco lineatus), the only abun- 

 dant species in the south, and it frequents those high grounds 

 and open woods where the fox and wild cat seldom resort, 

 during the middle of the day, so that man is almost the only 

 enemy it has to dread. 



(To be continued.) 



Art. IV — On the Anatomy of the Lamellibranchiate Conchiferous 

 Animals. By Robert Garner, Esq. F.L.S. 



(Continued from Vol. ii. n. s. page 583J. 



With respect to the chemical composition of the shells of 

 Bivalves little has been done. Hatchett 1 found them to con- 

 sist of carbonate of lime, and animal matter. In the oyster 

 shell Vauquelin* noticed animal matter, carbonate and phos- 

 phate of lime, carbonate of magnesia, and oxide of iron. The 

 earthy matter has commonly more or less of crystalline struc- 

 ture, and the membranes which support it, have, when freed 

 by a weak acid from the earthy matter and viewed with a lens, 

 a regular reticulated appearance. 3 The earthy matter is de- 

 posited in these membranes, which are themselves merely 

 indurated mucous transudations. The colorations of the 

 shells are various. Chemists have not ascertained the nature 



1 Home, Lectures. 2 Malacologie. 3 Poli. 



