84 Shell Life 



The Qaiii or Queen (P. opercidarifi) is more 

 nearly circular in shape, thin and smooth, marked 

 by 18 or 20 broad, rounded ribs, sometimes with 

 scales upon them. The ears are almost equal. 

 The colour varies from white to yellow, orange, 

 pink, red, brown, or purple, often marked with 

 streaks or spots of other colours. The animal is 

 as varied in colour as its shell. The 35 to 40 

 black ocelli have a pupil-like spot of greenish grey. 

 Full-grown specimens measure from 2| to 3 inches 

 across. The Quin is more partial to sandy than to 

 rocky shores, and that is probably 

 the reason why it is less given 

 to fixing itself, and more addicted 

 to flitting like a submarine 

 butterfly. It is strange that this 

 power of flight should be so little 

 known to fishermen : I have 

 caused the most profound as- 

 tonishment in some experienced 

 members of this class by showing 

 them Quins in full activity in an aquarium-tank. 

 Tliis species is much used for food on some of our 

 coasts, the oyster-dredgers obtaining great numbers 

 from the oyster-banks and selling them for a few 

 pence per hundred. 



The Seven-rayed Scallop (P. pes-hdrcv) is also 

 almost circular in outline, but at once distinguished 

 from the others by the very different sculpture, 

 the seven ribs being widely distant from each 

 other. Between these strong ribs the somewhat 

 glossy shell is very finely grooved. In the upper 

 valve the ears are almost equal, but in the lower 



Quin or Queen 

 (one-fifth nat. size) 



