SCALLOPS. 265 



the Holj Lancl^ or some distant object of devotion. Hence 

 they are still preserved in the armorial bearings of several 

 distinguished families. 



The species journey occasionally to considerable dis- 

 tances from their native element, and are not unfre- 

 quently deserted by the tide. How, then, it may be 

 asked, is it possible for the creatures to return ? That 

 Being who denies to this gradation of His works those 

 facilities for locomotion which He assigns to almost every 

 other, has not left them without a substitute. They ex- 

 pand their valves, and then close them with a sudden jerk ; 

 an impulse is thus given which enables them to move to 

 the distance of four or five inches, and by a continual repe- 

 tition of this simple act. Scallops gradually progress till 

 they reach the water. Nor is this all. They are some- 

 times exposed to the rude tossings of the waves, and their 

 small vessels are consequently liable to be broken against 

 the rocks : but to obviate the possibility of such a disas- 

 ter, those which pertain to rough seas are endowed with 

 the faculty of spinning threads, as above noticed, by 

 means of which they attach themselves to large marine 

 pebbles^ rocks, or pieces of timber, and are often found 



