The Laicrencian Formation. 



341 



^ Fig. 5. Astarte Laurentiana. — This species was iSrst found by 

 Sir Charles Lyell at Quebec, or among shells procured there. It 

 is not known to be living in any sea, and is perhaps extinct. It 

 may be recognized by the very regular concentric ridges which 

 cover its surface. Occurs at Beauport and Montreal. Astarte^ 

 the name of a goddess of the Sidonians and Assyrians, called in 

 Scripture, Ashtaroth. 



Fig. 5, 



Fig. 6. 





Fig. 8. 



Fig. 5. — Astarte LaurentiancL. 

 Fig. 6. — Pecten Islandicus. 

 Fig. v. — JVatica clausa. 

 Fig. 8. — Scalar la borealis, 



Fig. 6. Pecten Idand'icus. — The Pectens, or Scallops, have the 

 power of swimming through the waters. Woodward, page 257, 

 says : — " The Rev. D. Landsborough observed the fry (young) of 

 P. opcrcularis, when less than the size of a six-pence, swimming 

 in a pool of sea water left by the ebbing of the tide. Their motion 

 was rapid and ziz-zag ; they seemed, by the sudden opening and 

 closing of their valves, to have the power of darting like an arrow 

 through the waters. One jerk carried them some yards, and then 

 by another jerk they were off in a moment on a different track." 

 There are 120 species living, and 450 fossil, from the carboni- 

 ferous upwards. 



