58 



SCALLOP SHELLS. 



in his poem called "The Pilgrimage," tliiis enumerates the 

 different articles considered necessary for a Palmer, as these 

 pilgrims were termed: — 



"Give me my scallop shell of quiet, 



My staff of faith to loan upon, 

 ^ly scrip of joy, (immortal diet,) 



My bottle of salvation, 

 My gotcn of glory, hope's true gage, 

 And thus I'll make my pilgrimage." 



This Mollusk, it may be noticed, like many other bivalves, 

 has a flat, and a concave or liollow shell: in early times 

 when plates and drinking vessels were not so plentiful as 

 they are now, one of these served the former purpose, and 

 the other the latter; thus, in speaking of a feast, a Gaelic or 

 Scottish bard has said — 



"The joy of the shell went round." 



Sometimes the species termed Pectoi opcrcidaris, was used as 

 the pilgrim's badge; the specific name comes most likely from 

 the Latin operculum, whose meaning has been explained. 



COMMON SCALLOP. 



This too, is a common British shell, as is also the little 



