272 DIMYARIA.—CARDIADZ. 
All the species are believed to be wholesome as 
human food, and our own commonest species, Car- 
dium edule, is very extensively sought after by 
persons not always of the lowest class in this 
country. It is said to be equally good raw or 
cooked, and its attractions when pickled, to bipeds 
of more than one class, are recorded in an amusing 
story. 
A certain Parrot’s loquacity had made her a 
favourite with all the members of a family, except 
the cook, whose resentment was incurred by Poll’s 
thievish propensities. A jar of pickled cockles 
was on a shelf in the cupboard, and whenever the 
door was casually left open, the watchful bird 
failed not to pay it a visit, though always scolded 
when found out. One day Cook, coming suddenly 
into the kitchen, caught Poll in the act of emerging 
from the cupboard. Unable to restrain her wrath, 
she cried, “ What! you’ve been at the pickled 
cockles again, have you?” and at the same instant 
dashed at the offending bird a tureen full of hot 
soup which was in her,deind. 
The poor bird was grievously scalded, and the 
consequences were the loss of all the plumage of 
her head, and of all her wonted garrulity. Nota 
word was uttered for weeks, and it was feared she 
had become hopelessly silent, when, one day, just 
as the new feathers of her head were beginning to 
sprout, a gentleman who was bald happened to 
call. Struck with the similarity of condition dis- 
played by the stranger’s smooth crown to her own, 
Poll broke forth, vociferating with peculiar em- 
phasis, “ What! you’ve been at the pickled cockles, 
have you?” 
