14 EDIBLE BRITISH MOLIXSCA. 



valve, and one in the other; exterior covered with an 

 olivaceous epidermis, concentrically striated. Breadth 

 1 inch, length from 7 to 8 inches. 



The razor or spout-fishes are all good for food, but 

 Solen siliqua, which is the largest of our British 

 species, is the one generally collected for that purpose. 

 Solen ensis is eaten in the Feroe Isles, and is there 

 called Langskoel; and Solen marginatus, commonly 

 known as Vagina, is greatly prized as an article of food 

 by the Neapolitans. This last-named species has a 

 wide range abroad, but is not so common in this 

 country as the two above-mentioned shells, though it 

 is abundant in some localities, amongst others Rye, 

 Tenby, and the Channel Islands. In the Isle of Man 

 the razor-fish is called Eeast-gholvirragh. 



The razor-shell is the aulo of the Romans; and 

 Aristotle, in his ' History of Animals/ gives a descrip- 

 tion of it, stating that "it buries itself in the sand, 

 can rise and sink in, but does not leave its hole, is 

 soon alarmed by noise, and buries itself rapidly; and 

 that the valves of the shell are connected together at 

 both sides, and their surface smooth."* 



However, according to Dr. J. G. Jeffrey s, the power of 

 locomotion of the Solen is not confined to burrowiEg; 

 as they can dart from place to place in the water as 

 quickly as the scallop, and apparently in the same way. 



In the time of Athengeus it was much eaten, and 

 highly valued, if we may judge from the following 

 quotations in his ' Deipnosophists :' — 



" Araros says, in his ' Campylion/ — 



" These now are most undoubted delicacies, 

 Cockles and solens. 



* Forbes and Hanley, ' Brit. Moll.' vol i. p. 240. 



