Contents 



V. NUT-SHELLS AND MUSSELS 



PAGE 



Bivalve shells — Nut-shells — The "foot" of a Tmrrower in 

 gravel — How the valves are kept closed — Hinges, locking- 

 teeth, and bands of muscle — Leda-shells — Long siphons 

 denote a deep Lurrower — Microscopic food of bivalves — 

 Saddle-oysters and their attachment-plug — Noah's Ark — 

 Dog-Cockle — Eared Limopsis — Common Mussel — Its value 

 for food and bait — Gregarious — Its byssus, or mooring- 

 ropes — Mussels as foreshore conservators — The legend of 

 Bideford Bridge — Hoi'se JVIussels and tlieir crab companion 

 — Crenellas ....... 54 



VI. OYSTERS AND SCALLOPS 



Fan INIussels and Pea-crab— The Oyster : its personality 

 —The parent of millions — Their infantile activity and 

 later laziness — " Natives " and " Green Oysters" — Enemies 

 of the Oyster— Scallops— Their flight through the sea- 

 Purpose of the ribs and " ears " — The Quin as butterfly of 

 the sea — File- shells ...... 75 



VII. HEART-COCKLE AND FRESH-WATER 

 COCKLES 



Astarte-shells — Hinge-teeth and their relation to habit 

 of Mollusk — Another reason for ribs — Burrowing feet — 

 Iceland Cyprina— Heart - Cockle— Lucina and Hatchet- 

 shells — Double-tooth — Urchin-shell — A strange attachment 

 — Kelly-shells — Shell-collecting from fish stomachs : a big- 

 haul — Coin-shells and Crustaceans — A bivalve scavenger 

 — The WeaseFs-eye : its strange use of shell — Fresh-water 

 Cockles and their climl)ing ropes — Pea-shells — Fresh- water 

 INLissels : their probal)le origin — British pearls and pearl 

 fishery— Swan Mussels— The Zebra Mussel and its strange 

 history ........ 92 



VIII. AYEDGE-SHELLS, VENUS-SHELLS, AND 

 COCKLES 



Tellins — Mud burrowers — Furrow-shells — Wedge-shells 

 •with milled edges — Trough-shells — Circe and Artemis — 

 Smooth Venus, our most massive native— Toothed edges 



