182 



MYTILID^. 



features of the same part in the latter group, we should feel 

 inclined to unite them, as many malacologists of eminence 

 have done. The Modiolec are often handsome shells, and 

 of tolerably ample dimensions. They spin a strong byssus, 

 and several of the sj)ecies can construct a sort of enveloping 

 nest from it. They live sometimes singly, sometimes gre- 

 gariously, in various depths of water, and are sought after 

 for bait by fishermen, though usually rejected, on account of 

 their too strong scent and flavour, as food. The genus 

 dates very far back in time, many palajozoic shells appear- 

 ing to belong to it. 



M. Modiolus, Linnaeus. 



Large, not rayed with crimson ; epidermis lustrous, its fila- 

 ments entire at the margins ; dorsal edge quite equal to the 

 upper posterior one ; beaks not quite terminal. 



Plate XLIV. fig. 1, 2. 



Mytilus Modiolus, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 12, p. 1158.— Penn. Brit. Zool. ed. 4, 



vol. iv. p. 113, pi. 66, f. 77. —Da Costa, Brit. Conch, p. 



219, pi. 15, f. 5 (on the right).— Pulteney, Hutchins, 



Hist. Dorset, p. 38. — DoNov. Brit. Shells, vol. i. pi. 23. 



— Mont. Test. Brit. p. 1 63. — Maton and Rack. Trans. 



Linn. Soc. vol. viii. p. 107. — Dorset Catalog, p. 40. — 



Laskey, Mem. Werner. Soc. vol. i. p. 392. — Chemn. 



Conch. Cab. vol. viii. p. 178 (but not his Tranquebar 



shell, pi. 85, f. 757).— MtJLLER, Zool. Danic.pl. 53.— 



DiLLw. Recent Shells, vol. i. p. 314. — Index Testaceolog. 



pi. 12, f. 31. — Fleming, Encyclop. Edin. vol. vii. pi. 



203, f. 22. 



„ umbilicatus, Penn. Brit. Zool. ed. 4, vol. iv. p. 112, pi. 65, f. 76. — 



DoNOV. Brit. Shells, vol. ii. pi. 40. — Mont. Test. Brit. 



p. 164, and Suppl. p. 71. — Maton and Rack. Trans. 



Linn. vol. viii. p. 109. — Index Testaceolog. pi. 12, f. 49. 



„ curtus, Penn. Brit. Zool. ed. 4, vol. iv. p. 112, pi. 64, f. 76 a. 



„ curvirostratus. Da Costa, Brit. Conch, p. 220. 



„ barhatus, Pulteney (not Linn.), Hutchins, Hist. Dorset, p. 38. — 

 DoNov. Brit. Shells, vol. ii. pi. 70. — Mont. Test. Brit, p. 



