98 EDIBLE BRITISH MOLLUSKS. 



fam. pectinid^:. 



PECTEN.— SCALLOP. 



Pecten opercularis, Linnseus. Lid Scallop. — 

 Shell spherical ; valves convex, of nearly equal dimen- 

 sions, rather strong; ribs 18 or 20 in number, finely 

 striated, both longitudinally and transversely ; auricles 

 nearly the same size ; ligament internal ; hinge without 

 teeth. 



This is the common scallop of the people, and much 

 smaller than the "great scallop," also subject to greater 

 variety of colour. Specimens are found quite white, with 

 a dark red line on the summit of each of the radiated 

 ribs, (var. Hneatvs,) also brown, yellow, speckled white 

 and brown, purplish-pink, and orange. The specimen 

 figured was dredged up off the Parson and Clerk rocks, 

 at Dawlish, and at times there may be gathered baskets 

 full on the beach between that town and the mouth of 

 the Exe. The shells are much used in ornamental work ; 

 and pretty baskets, pincushions, needle-books, etc., are 

 made from the beautiful variegated valves. 



The scallop may be called the butterfly of the ocean, 

 from its power of swimming or flying rapidly through 

 the water. This was observed by Pliny, who says that 

 the scallop is able to dart above the surface of the 

 water, just like an arrow. * By some this power is 

 supposed to be caused by the rapid opening and shutting 

 of the valves; but Mr. Gosse states that after carefully 

 watching the habits of a Pecten, which he kept for 

 some days in a glass phial of sea- water, he discovered 

 that the flitting motion was performed by forcing jets of 

 * Pliny, Nat. Hist. vol. ii. bk. ix. ch. 45 (29). 



