GAPERS. 293 
One of the rarest of British bivalves (Panopea 
Norvagica), allied to Mya, is an inhabitant of deep 
water, and is interesting for its unusual square 
form, and for its large size. 
The following graphic account of Mr. Bean’s dis- 
covery of this extremely scarce species is extracted 
from the ‘‘ Magazine of Natural History,” wherein 
the shell was first actually published as a native of 
our seas: “ We have obtained at Scarborough three 
specimens of this, in every sense of the word, 
gigantic prize. To some of the fishermen of our 
coast it appeared to be well known by the name of 
the bacca-box, from a fancied resemblance to one of 
their most useful household goods. They were all 
caught by the hook, and rescued from destruction 
ina singular manner. The first was destined for 
a tobacco-box ; the second had the honour of hold- 
ing the grease belonging to the boat-establishment ; 
and the third, after amusing them (the members of 
a philosophical society) by squirting water to the 
ceiling, was at last seen by a learned friend, pur- 
chased for a trifle, and generously placed in our 
cabinet. The animal we have not seen, but its 
colour is black.” Three additional individuals have 
since then been obtained by Mr. Bean from the 
same locality, and two single valves have been 
dredged by Mr. M‘Andrew in ninety fathoms water, 
twenty-five miles east of Zetland. It is likewise 
captured, though very rarely, in deep water off the 
Northumberland and Durham coasts (King and 
Alder).* 
* Cited in Br. Moll. i. 177. 
