306 THE INHABITANTS OF THE SEA. 
be badly off indeed if they could not entirely conceal themselves 
within their thick shells, and keep them closed by strong 
muscular contraction. 
Bernardin de St. Pierre, in his “Studies of Nature,” points 
out another admirable provision for the safety of molluscs. 
Thus, those which crawl and travel, and can consequently choose 
their own asylums, are in general those of the richest colours. 
Such, among the Gasteropods, are the gaudily-tinted Nerites, 
and the polished marbled Cowries, the Olives, richly ornamented 
with three or four colours, and the Harps, which have tints as 
rich as the most beautiful tulips; while among the bivalves the 
vivacious Pectens, coloured scarlet and orange, and a host of 
other travelling shells, are impressed with the most lively colours. 
But those which do not swim, as the Oysters, which are adherent 
always to the same rocks, or those which are perpetually at 
anchor, as the Pinnas and Mussels, or those which repose on the 
bosom of Madrepores, such as the Arcs, or those which are 
entirely buried in the calcareous rocks, as the Lithodomi, or 
those which immovably, by reason of their weight, pave the sur- 
face of the reefs, as the Tridacna, are of the colour of the bottoms 
or floors which they respectively inhabit, in order, no doubt, 
that they shall be less perceived by their enemies. 
But even so the best guarded of the bivalves fall a prey to 
innumerable enemies, and when we see the strand covered for 
miles and miles with their débris, we may rest assured that but 
few of the quondam inmates of these fragmentary shells have 
died a natural death. Annelides and Sea-snails, crustaceans 
and star-fishes, strand birds and even quadrupeds, all fatten 
upon their delicate flesh, and man devours incalculable numbers. 
In vain the Pholas buries itself in stone, or the cockle in the 
sand; their security was at an end as soon as man had found 
out that they were grateful to the palate. The former was 
reckoned a delicacy by the ancients, and 
the latter is preferred by some to the oyster 
itself. So much is certain, that, during 
the years of famine caused by the potato 
disease, it preserved the lives of many of 
the poor Shetlanders and Orcadians. 
The Razor-Shells, particularly when 
roasted, and the Clam-Mussels, which are not only a favourite 
Edible Cockle. 
