report on the testaceous mollusca. 241 



(2.) Special Notes. 



Anomia patelliformis and Pecten pusio occur frequently 

 as dead valves of very old individuals on the beach at Pen- 

 maenmawr, telling of some oyster bed within reach of the shore 

 currents. The oyster bed may have ceased to exist for years. 



Pecten maxivius, L. Dead valves occasionally at Pen- 

 maenmawr. 



Mytiliis edulis. Young and small pellucid shells some- 

 times clothe the large stones at low water at Blackpool, where 

 large shells are seldom found. 



Since the railway very greatly increased the export into 

 Lancashire, etc., of mussels from Conway Bay, the average 

 size has greatly decreased. Some years ago, large quantities 

 of mussels were raked up in Conway Bay, and boiled in huts 

 on the east shore to get seed pearls. These were bought by 

 a traveller at 4s. per oz. A woman could earn 12s. per week 

 at this harvest (see Land and Water , Oct. 15, 1872). The 

 trade has ceased, but large masses of blue shells (which have 

 been described as raised sea bottom) remain above the shore. 



Mytilus modiolus, L. Sometimes, in summer, a number 

 of specimens of this animal will be thrown up on Penmaen- 

 mawr beach, alive, often enclosing Pinnotheres pisum, 



Cardium echinatum occurs fresh and fine at Penmaen- 

 mawr and at Southport, but I have never seen the animal, 

 and do not know where it lives (D.) 



Cardium edide is largely collected on Conway and Lavan 

 sands, and on the banks off Bagillt and Holywell, and at 

 Southport and Blackpool. 



A curious variation of habit arises when 3'oung cockles 

 get amongst mussels, and, being anchored by the byssus 

 threads of the latter animal, grow and develop freely with- 

 out being buried in sand, as well-bred cockles should be. 

 These open-water cockles produce a circular, delicate, and 

 very pretty variety of shell (Conway Bay). 



Q 



