PECTEN. 105 



lops, or Pectens, are a beautiful tribe, and both the shell and 

 its inhabitant show forth the praises of the Lord. Are any 

 disposed to think the scallop must lead a joyless life, lying 

 inert in the dungeons of the deep ? The Tecten, let me tell 

 them, is a happy, active creature. It can raise itself to the 

 surface, and, though unaided by fins, can skim cleverly 

 through the waves. I have seen a little fleet of them skip- 

 ping about most merrily, as if engaged in some frolicsome 

 dance. On watching their zigzag evolutions, I found that 

 their valves were to them in "water what wings are to the 

 bird in the air. Every time" they opened and shut their 

 valves, they were rapidly propelled several yards ; and they 

 had only to repeat the operation, and their sportive move- 

 ment was continued. Others will say, ^What a pity, poor 

 things, that they are blind !^ Your pity is again misplaced." 

 The shells of our British Pectens may be thus charac- 

 terized : — 

 P. varhis : equal-valved, longer than broad ; valves equal ; 



auricles unequal ; ribs numerous, raised, with spines ; 



colours, bright orange or purple, beautifully mottled. 

 P. niveus : white, with more ribs than P. varms. 

 P. striattis : rather rounded, smooth or slightly scaled ; 



more or less transparent ; variously mottled or mai'ked. 



