72 THE ECONOMIC MOLLUSCA OF ACADIA. 



collecting sediment among themselves, packed closely together as they 

 are, and by their own decay and decomposition. The beds are found 

 both between tide-marks and in shallow water, and the latter produce 

 the larger specimens. Indeed, the largest are found isolated, for the 

 crowded, tangled mass in the beds does not allow of large growth. 



Though ordinariij' fixed by the byssus, they can travel a little when 

 needful. The foot is thrust far out in advance to attach new threads by 

 which it draws itself along, breaking off the old ones behind. It lives 

 upon microscopical animals and plants, chiefly upon the latter. It has 

 some enemies, chief among them, the food fishes, all of which are 

 exceedingly fond of it. Crows, the Purple-shell {P. lapillus), the Star- 

 fish, and (in England) the Sea-urchin, all are destructive to it. 



The height of the reproductive vseason appears to be April and JNIay. 

 The young, after leaving the body of the parent, swim about for a few 

 days and then settle upon some firm surface. They grow very rapidly; 

 there are cases knowm in which they have grown to full size (three to 

 four inches long), in one year. In most cases, however, they require 

 two or three years. 



Economics. Our edible Mussel is, without any question, 

 identical in all respects with that of Europe. And without 

 any question, also, it is adapted for the same uses. In Europe,, 

 the uses to man of this species may be roughly classed under 

 four heads, the following being their order of importance. 



a. As bait in the fisheries. 



b. As human food. 



c. As a fertilizer. 



d. Minor uses for ornaments, etc. 



In America the order is quite different. The third in the 

 list certainly stands rirst, but it is difficult to state the order of 

 the other three, which apparently stand about on an equality. 

 In Europe, it is a Mollusc of great importance, being second 

 only to the Oyster; we almost ignore it. There, it entirely 

 replaces our common Clam, which, though abundant, is 

 rarely used either for food or for bait. Is it not a curious 

 fact that each country should prize the one the other neglects?" 

 Why do they not each value both? It would be interesting 

 to learn how this condition of affairs came about in this 

 country; iu other words, how the early settlers, always 

 conservative of old customs, and used to European ways^ 

 abandoned them and took to new? Did they imitate the 



