CAEDIAD.E. COCKLE. 51 



by thirty for the smaller portion. The most abundant 

 shell is the periwinkle ; next in order as to frequency 

 is the oyster, which, as well as those who had it as a 

 large item in their bill of fare, has passed away from 

 our coasts. Save in some of the nooks of our Firth, 

 as at Cromarty, Altirtie, and Avoch, we know not 

 where a small dish of them could be procured. As 

 third in order, in this mound, is the mussel, and then 

 the cockle." 



Mr. Gordon further adds that similar refuse-heaps 

 are found all round the shores of the Moray Firth, and 

 that the farmers gradually cart them away to serve as 

 manure or top dressings. 



These shell-mounds, Sir John Lubbock states, are 

 actually called " shelly-meddings " by the fishermen of 

 that district. 



Sir Gardner Wilkinson found large masses of cockle- 

 shells embedded in the ditches of an old British camp 

 or earthwork, called " Nottle Tor," in the seigniory of 

 Gower, in Glamorganshire. This camp stands on a 

 high rock above the sea, and at some distance from 

 any dwelling-house ; the shells are therefore from fish 

 eaten by the ancient Britons. 



Cockle, mussel, and oyster shells, are often dis- 

 covered in great quantities on the sites of Roman 

 stations. 



In the reign of King John we read of vessels called 

 " cogs." They were supposed to be short and of great 

 breadth, like a cockle- shell, whence they are said to 

 have derived their name. The name "coo-" was 

 variously written, viz., kogge, gogga, kogh, cocka, 

 coqua, &c. " Cogs " were used for the conveyance of 



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