ON ACEPHALA. 403 
during that season. According to Pali, those which are 
consumed in Naples, are found in great abundance, sunk 
in the mud of the lake Fusoza, which is partly fed by the 
waters of the sea. Their flesh is good, but not very savoury. 
The foot, if we are to believe Pali, is not of the same colour 
all months of the year. In October it is whitish, in Decem- 
ber and January it grows yellow, and afterwards becomes a 
fine vermillion. 
The CYCLADES are constantly found in fresh-water, and 
have the habits and manners of Venus, of which we shall 
treat presently. ‘They walk by means of the abdominal ap- 
pendage, which is sometimes formed of a widened base, from 
which arises an elongated, flagelliform appendage. They 
live in mud, but not in a vertical position, and put forth their 
tubes through the posterior part of the shell, a little open. 
The mollusca of the genus VENUS are animals found in all 
parts of the world. They constantly live on the sea coasts, 
sunk in the sand, but at no great depth, so that they issue 
forth easily, and can walk very well with the assistance of 
their foot. Itis even said that they can jump, and as it were 
vault, striking the interior of the water repeatedly with their 
valves. ‘This same faculty has caused Palito name the whole 
class of the bivalves, swbsilientia; but all are very far from 
possessing it. 
Very little is known concerning the habits and manners of 
the venus, which cannot differ much from those of other 
bivalves. 
At different sea-ports these animals are eaten, and esteemed 
a delicacy, instead of, and indeed preferably to, oysters. 
The taste is stronger than that of oysters, and one must be 
habituated to it to relish it. 
The mollusca called SOLEN, all live at but small distances 
from the shore, sunk vertically in the sand, the mouth under- 
neath, and the anus upwards. The holes which they make 
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