SECTION VII. 147' 



There is yet another charader, which 

 feems to belong to this family ; that is^ 

 their infide is aivvays of the fined or moft" 

 orient pearl ; and even pearls are ofcen bred 

 in them. This is alfo another reafon why 

 I do not allow the abovefald Venus Ear to 

 be of the family, for it wants the pearly 

 infide, as well as the perforations. 



In the row of holes, or perforations^ there 

 are generally fix or feven quite perforated^ 

 pr very open ; the reft are clofedj and ap- 

 pear rather like tubercles than holes; for it 

 IS faid the fifh always clofes one towards 

 the head, and opens another towards the 

 end, as he grows bigger, and by thefe 

 holes he flings his excrements forth from 

 his Shell. 



There are very few fpecies of this fa-* 

 mily. It is even doubted^ whether fome 

 fpecies propofed by authors, are not rather 

 varieties : but they are found in grefci abun- 

 dance in moft parts of the Vv^orld. 



h 2 I ijever 



