56 THE ELEMENTS 



anterior slope closed. Linn. Sysf, 

 311. Plate 6th, fi^;. 12tli. 



Habitation. The shells of this ge- 

 nus have only been found to inhabit 

 the ocean ; they live only in very deep 

 water. 



The Chama Gigas is the largest 

 and heaviest shell yet discovered, be- 

 ing sometimes of the amazing weight 

 of 532 pounds, and the animal inhabi- 

 tant so large as to furnish one hun- 

 dred and twenty-two men with a meal ; 

 and is said to be very palatable : and 

 such is its strength that it is able to 

 cut asunder a ship's cable. This spe- 

 cies inhabits the Indian Ocean. 



The French writers divide this ge- 

 nus into five, Chama, Tridacna, Hip- 

 possus, Cardita, and Isocardia. 



In Turton's Linne twenty-five spe- 

 cies are described. Only one of this 

 genus has been found in the British 

 seas, the Chama Cor, discovered by 

 Captain Laskey, off vSt. AbbVhead in 



