CARDIAD.E. — COCKLE. 41 



which the surrounding soil is mud, at too great a 

 depth to be disturbed by storms, the Isocardia of our 

 Irish Sea patiently collects its food from the sur- 

 rounding element, assisted in its choice by the current 

 it is capable of creating by the alternate opening and 

 closing of its valves." 



The Mediterranean species of this bivalve are smaller 

 than those found on our coasts, and there are no less 

 than five or six kinds known in the European and 

 Indian seas.* 



Epimarchus, in his play of the ' Marriage of Hebe/ 

 mentions shellfish of all kinds, and says, — 



"And bring too the black 

 Cockle, which keeps the cockle-hunter on the stretch. "+ 



This may possibly refer to the oxhorn-cockle. 



The wife of a coastguardsman, who had lived many 

 years at Brixham, and had often luxuriated in a dish 

 of these delicious shellfish, gave me the following 

 recipe for cooking them : — 



To dress Torbay noses. — Wash the shells well, then 

 boil them till they open — about ten minutes or so ; 

 take the fish out of the shells and put them into a fry- 

 ing-pan with some butter, a little salt and pepper, 

 and fry till they are of a good brown colour; then 

 serve. 



Fam. CARDIAD.E. 

 CARDIUM.— COCKLE. 



Caedium Edule, Linnasus. Common Cockle. — Shell 



* ' Manuel de Conchyliologie, 5 par Dr. T. C. Chenu. 

 f Athenseus, ' Deip.' Eohn's Class. Lib. iii. p. 112. 



