the surface. They raise one valve of their shell above the 

 surface, which becomes a kind of sail, while the other re- 

 mains under the water, and answers the purpose of an an- 

 chor, by steadying the animal and preventing its being 

 overset. When an enemy approaches, they instantly shut 

 their shells, plunge to the bottom, and the whole fleet dis- 

 appears !" We have not learned that this remarkable flo- 

 tilla has been observed since the time of Pliny, 



Blany of the species are esteemed as food and are expos- 

 ed for sale in the markets. They are commonly known 

 by the name of Scallop, and the English collectors call 

 ihem Fans in allusion to their form. D'ilerbigny says 

 that in Italy they are called cape sante, in Holland man- 

 ieis ; in Languedoc coquUks large^ m Brittany and Low- 

 er Normandy, Kojiches. Deshayes enumerates two hun* 

 dred species, more of which are fossil than living. 



