THE FAUNA OF THE SALCOMBE ESTUARY. 209 



Lepton squamosum {Montagu). Only shells of this species were 

 found. Canou Norman records it from Salcombe as a commensal with 

 Gchia stellata {Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., March, 1891). 



MODIOLA modiolus (Linnceus). One living specimen was found on 

 the western shore of the Salstone, half buried in the muddy gravel 

 and attached to a stone by its byssus. Small Modiolce, probably the 

 young of this species, were not uncommon in dredge material, generally 

 attached to stones and shells. 



Crenella marmorata {Forbes). This species was common in dredge 

 material, attached to or boring in the tests of Ascidians {Ascididla). 



NucULA nucleus {Linnceus). Not uncommon in dredge material 

 from the channel off Tosnos Point. 



Pinna pectinata, Linnccus. One or two valves of this fine mollusc 

 were found on the west shore of Salstone. 



Montagu {Testacea Britannica, part. i. p. 181) speaks of the occurrence 

 of this species at Salcombe as follows : — 



" They lie on a gravelly bottom covered with mud and long seaweeds, 

 and are only to be got at particular times when the sea recedes farther 

 than usual. 



"They stand upright, with the large end about an inch above the 

 surface ; the lower end fixed by a very large, strong byssus, so firmly 

 attached to the gravel that much force is required to draw them up ; 

 and most commonly the byssus is left behind. This beard is composed 

 of numerous, fine, silk-like fibres of a dark purplish brown, two or 

 three inches in length. The larger end of the shell is naturally a 

 little open, and cannot be closed by art, but the animal is capable 

 of effecting it. The beaks of the valves rarely cover each other exactly. 



" Some of these shells have been taken annually for many years, 

 the animal having been accounted very good food, but they require 

 at least five or six hours' stewing to render them eatable. If this is 

 properly attended to they are nearly as good as Scallops, but never 

 so tender. 



"The bank on which these shells are found probably increases, so 

 that the water leaves a greater part bare, at every spring tide, than 

 formerly ; and in consequence they become an easy prey to crows and 

 gulls. Few are now to be obtained but at some unusual low tide. 



" We have taken them of all sizes, from one inch to one foot in 

 length, and from their general habits cannot liken them to any of 

 the Liuneean species. One of the largest, after the animal was taken 

 out, weighed seventeen ounces. The animal is very disproportionate to 

 the shell, not occupying one-half of it." 



Pecten opercularis (Lmnwus). A few living specimens were found 

 on the Salstone. Common in dredge material. 



