300 INTRODUCTION TO CONCHOLOGY. 



of the larger species of Mussels, being long and tapering 

 towards the opposite extremity. They are, also, gene- 

 rally brittle and horny, and are occasionally enriched 

 with a steel-like blue or copper-colour. Some peculi- 

 arity in the animal inhabitant uniformly furnishes a clue 

 to his mode of life. The construction of the Pinna 

 points out his adaptation to smooth waters and sheltered 

 bays; and, though generally found in the Mediterranean, 

 Indian, American, Atlantic, and Eed Seas, they are seldom 

 seen on bold and rocky coasts, exposed to the furious 

 surgings of the tides. The classic shores of the Mediter- 

 ranean are consequently amongst their favourite resorts ; 

 and hence the rocks near Cape St. Yido, where once 

 stood an abbey of Basilican monks, as well as the shores of 

 the Mare Grande, are completely studded with this in- 

 teresting shell-fish. — 



" Thousands of spinning worms, 

 Tliat in their green shops weave the smooth-hair'd silk 

 To deck her sons." 



They are elegantly termed silkworms of the ocean, in 

 allusion to the fine silky beard, or byssus, by means of 

 which they moor themselves firmly to the rocks, or else 

 allure small fish by the floating or trembling of the filaments 



