Oysters and Scallops 



77 



in the figure — lias been worked up, as an object of 

 curiosity chiefly, into muffs and other articles, and 

 when mixed with silk has been woven into p-loves. 



Although the Fan Mussel occurs all round our 

 islands, in muddy gravel or sand, from low water to 

 a depth of 80 fathoms, it cannot be regarded as a 

 common species. Where it does occur it will be 

 found in some numbers, for it is Pfresfarious in habit, 

 like all the species mentioned in this chapter. The 

 pointed forepart of the shell is inserted in the ground, 

 so that the broad open end is uppermost. The fisher- 

 men avoid tlie ground where the Fan Mussels arei 



Interior of Fan Mussel — right valve 



from fear of having their nets destroyed by the sharp 

 knife-like edges of these broad ends. I have already 

 referred briefly to the little Pea-crab (Finnoteres) as 

 lodging permanently in the shell of the Mussels and 

 Horse Mussels ; still more does it affect the Fan 

 Mussel, in which retreat it came under the notice of 

 Pliny and other ancient writers, who called it Pinna's 

 Friend, and invented many marvellous fables of the 

 doings of these strange partners. Except on the 

 supposition that the crab acts as a housemaid or 

 scavenger it is not easy to understand what advantage 

 the mollusk derives from the partnership. Crab 



