VENElilDvE. PULLET. 149 



that it is habitually eaten in County Clare, and that 

 Weinkauff mentions its being sold in the market at 

 Algiers.* 



It is a common species on the south coast of Ireland, 

 and Mr. Damon, of Weymouth, on visiting Kenmare, 

 found that, owing to the great consumption of Venus 

 verrucosa for food, the species was nearly exhausted. It 

 is dug out of a sandbank at low spring tides, at Bantry. 

 Dr. Paul Fischer observes that they are endeavouring to 

 cultivate it on the coast of Provence, and that it ought 

 to thrive well at Arcachon, as it is indigenous there. 



The beautiful Venus Chione, or Cytherea Chione, may 

 also be included in our list of "edible mollusks," though 

 it is not sufficiently abundant to form any more than a 

 rare and dainty dish with us, while, in the Mediter- 

 ranean, it is a common species. 



Poli, in his magnificent work, the ' Testacea utriusque 

 Sicilian ' (to which more modern writers are so deeply 

 indebted for their anatomical description of molluscous 

 animals), mentioning this fish, under the names of 

 Venus Chione and Callista coccinea, says it is most ex- 

 cellent, and that, though cooked in various ways (com- 

 mon to different shellfish), it is most delicious when 

 simply cooked in oil or butter, with breadcrumbs, 

 chopped parsley, and pepper and salt. 



I was so fortunate as to procure a dozen beautiful 

 specimens from Plymouth, the largest measuring 2\ 

 inches in length and 3J in breadth. The colour is a 

 pinkish- brown, with rays of a darker shade; the epi- 

 dermis is of a pale horn-colour, and transparent, show- 

 ing the rays of the shell through, and is very glossy. 

 The shell itself is solid and opaque. Specimens sent to 



* Brit. Conch, vol. ii. p. 3il. 



