20 



British pearl, which he dedicated to, and hung up in the temple of the idol 

 Venus Genetrix. 



Several species of gapers are used as food, both in Britain and on the 

 continent, as the Mya Arenaria, known to the fishermen about Southamp- 

 ton, by the whimsical name of Old Maids. These shells reside in the 

 mud, or shingle on the shore, laying a few inches below the surface. In 

 some parts of England and Ireland they are much used; but, though common 

 in Scotland, they are never sought after. Another species, (the Mya Trunca- 

 ta) is also very common on the coast. It prefers a hard, gravelly bottom, 

 in which it lodges at low-water mark. The inhabitants of the Northern 

 Islands call it Smuslin, and employ it, when boiled, as a supper dish. It is 

 by no means unpalatable. 



This genus has several divisions. 



DIVISION I. Hinge with one or tivo rounded teeth not inserted in the 



opposite valve. 



Some species of this division grow to a large size, as the Mya Glycymeris. 



Scientific name. 

 Glycymeris, 



Truncata, 



Arenaria, 



Declivis, 



Pubescens, 



Pratensis, 



Anatina, 



Globosa, 



Nicobarica, 



Locality. 

 Mediter. Sea, Spain, 

 Portugal and Naples, 

 Europe, Britain, 



u u 



Devonshire, Weym'th 



Britain, 



Mouth of the Niger, 



Nicobar Islands, 



Scientific name. 



Rostrata, 



Distorta, 



Bidentata, 



Decussata, 



Purpurea, 



Ferruginosa, 



Nitens, 



Prismatica, 



Substriata, 



Locality. 

 Bergen, 

 Plymouth, 

 Devonshire, 

 Frith of Forth, 

 Devonshire, 

 Bellon Sands, Dunbar, 



Scotland, Devonshire, 

 Devonshire. 



Edentula, 

 Membranacea, 



DIVISION II. Hinge callous, without teeth. 



Caspian Sea, 

 Iceland, 



Norwegica, 

 Siliqua, 



Norway, 

 North America. 



DIVISION III. Hinge with teeth inserted into the opposite valve. 



The Mya Ponderosa, (or M. Crassa of some authors) with others in this 

 division, are remarkable for their excessive weight and thickness, which is 

 universally the case with those that are found in rapid rivers and cataracts. 



