PECTINID^E. SCALLOP. 121 



versely; auricles nearly the same size; ligament in- 

 ternal ; hinge without teeth. 



This is the common scallop of the people, and much 

 smaller than the " Great scallop," also subject to 

 greater variety of colour. Specimens are found quite 

 white, with a dark red line on the summit of each of 

 the radiated ribs (var. lineatus), also brown, yellow, 

 speckled white and brown, purplish-pink, and orange. 

 The specimen figured was dredged up off the Parson 

 and Clerk rocks at Dawlish, and at times there may 

 be gathered basketfuls on the beach between that 

 town, and the mouth of the Exe. The shells are much 

 used in ornamental work ; and pretty baskets, pin- 

 cushions, needle-books, &c., are made from the beauti- 

 ful variegated valves. 



The scallop maybe called the butterfly of the ocean, 

 from its power of swimming or flying rapidly through 

 the water. This was observed by Pliny, who says that 

 the scallop is able to dart above the surface of the 

 water, just like an arrow.* By some this power is 

 supposed to be caused by the rapid opening and shut- 

 ting of the valves, but Mr. Gosse states that, after 

 carefully watching the habits of a Pecten, which he 

 kept for some days in a glass phial of sea-water, he 

 discovered that the flitting motion was performed by 

 forcing jets of water through the compressed edges of 

 the mantle. He says, " When the Pecten is about to 

 leap, it draws in as much water as it can contain with- 

 in the mantle, while the lips are held firmly in contact. 

 At this instant the united edges of the lips are slightly 

 drawn inward ; and this action gives sure warning of 

 the coming leap. The moment after this is observed, 

 * Pliny, 'Nat. Hist.' vol. ii. bk. ix. ch. 45 (29). 



