188-1.] NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 3 



SiG. Cay. Enrico Nicolis, of Yerona, Italy, was elected a 

 Corresponding Member. 



Dr. a. a. Julibn read a paper entitled, 



NOTES ON THE CONSTITUTION OF OCEAN, RIVER AND DESERT SANDS. 



(Published in the Proceedings of the American Association 

 for the Advancement of Science, 1884, pp. 413-416.) 

 Mr. B, B. Chamberlin read the following paper, on 



MUSSELS AND MUSSEL CULTURE. 



The mussel {Mytilus edulis) belongs to a somewhat advanced 

 order of mollnsks, possessing lamellar gills, a well-developed 

 stomach, liver and heart, bnt no distinct head. It has the pro- 

 tection of eqiiivalve shells, situated laterally to the body of the 

 animal. 



A remarkal)le feature of this mollusk is the curious organ 

 termed a " foot." Subsidiary to this is an apparatus termed the 

 " byssus," where a special gland has the power to secrete a sup- 

 ply of silky threads of a viscous nature. These fibres are 

 woven by the foot into a slender cable and fastened by means 

 of the same organ securely to a rock or other foreign object. 



The little animal rarely fails to secure itself a good foothold. 

 Should boulders or rocks he wanting, it will make use of peb- 

 bles, uniting them in a mass by means of the secreted threads, 

 as shown in the specimen presented for exhibition. Instances 

 are recorded where sea-walls, bridges, etc., have been ma- 

 terially strengthened and pi-eserved by the operations of these 

 little creatures. 



The culture of these mollusks is a s.ubject of considerable in- 

 terest. On the coast of France it has reached extensive propor- 

 tions, affording considerable revenue and furnishing employment 

 to thousands of citizens. The industry had its origin in a some- 

 what romantic manner, about the year 1233. A vessel from 

 Ireland, commanded by a Capt. Walton, was wrecked on the 

 coast of France. Escaping \vith then- lives, the captain and his 

 men erected huts and proceeded to make the best of their mis- 

 fortunes. 



In searching for supplies for food, the observing captain 

 noticed the superior condition of mussels growing on timber 

 elevated above low water, mud and brackish water proving 

 unfavorable for their proper development, and he con- 



