14 CARDIAD^. 



We cannot feel snrprised that our British conchologists 

 have not hitherto recognized the identity of our C. tubercu- 

 latum with the rusticum of the Mediterranean, as the 

 ordinary state in which the latter usually reaches us, desti- 

 tute of knobs, and beautifully zoned with a rich brown on a 

 whitish ground (our own variety is generally of an uniform 

 pale rufous), would not, until actual comparison, induce the 

 supposition of their identity. The shape of the Mediter- 

 ranean examples is frequently much more abbreviated than 

 ours, so that the breadth almost equals the length, and the 

 interstitial rugse are perhaps less irregularly flexuous ; but 

 in no essential characters, do they differ from those which 

 are indigenous to our coast. 



Individuals rarely exceed two inches and three quarters 

 in length, and a trifle less in breadth. The young bear but 

 little resemblance to the fry of echinafum or aculeatw)i, 

 being solid (even when less in diameter than half an inch), 

 and armed with minute tubercles, instead of compressed 

 lancet-shaped spines. According to Turton, they are of 

 a chocolate-brown, with white blotches or rays ; the first 

 stage of growth, however, in our own shells, is pure white. 

 The animal is figured and described by Poll ; the mantle 

 is thickened and denticulated posteriorly ; tubes cirrhated, 

 and with the mantle of a yellow or red colour ; the foot 

 long and crimson. 



As a British species it is essentially local, and by no 

 means frequent in collections. These shells, however, 

 abound at certain seasons " On the Paignton sands in Tor- 

 bay, where at low spring-tides they may be observed, with 

 the fringed tubes appearing just above the surface. The 

 neighbouring cottagers gather them in baskets and pan- 

 niers, and after cleansing them a few hours in cold spring- 

 water, fry the fish in a batter made of crumbs of bread, 



