: -ji 



MYRTUS PIMEHTO. 



MYTILID.*. 



oil, and were tuod by the Romans u a spies, and are at this day in 

 TOMBOY employed ai a substitute for pepper. The Tuscans also 

 prepare a kind of wine from the Myrtle called Myrtidanum. The 

 berries are uied at the present day in Greece ai a remedy in the 

 diarrhoea of little children. The mode of administering them U to 

 eoak them in red wine. The (lowers of the Myrtle hare an agreeable 

 cent, and when distilled they form the perfume sold in France under 

 the name of Eau d'Ange, In addition to a volatile oil the Myrtle 

 contains tannin, so that in medicine its various parU have an astringent 

 action, and have been used for this purpose. In Greece, Italy, and 

 the south of France, the bark U used for tanning. 



The Myrtle U only a half-hardy plant in this climate, although many 

 individuals have lived and borne our winters for (bore 100 yean. 

 The Myrtle appears to have been introduced into England in the Itith 

 century. There are at the present time many fine myrtle-trees iu 

 Great Britain and Ireland. At Cobhatu Hall, in Kent, there are several 

 specimen* 30 feet high. In the Isle of Wight it forms the hedges of 

 many gardens. It cannot however be relied on, but may be easily 

 cutlivated by giving it protection during the winter. Several varieties 

 of the Myrtui cummunit are found in gardens. 



If. mtlanocarpa (' D. C. Prod.,' iii. p. 239). Fruit blackish. This 

 variety of Myrtle U frequent in the south of Europe and in gardens, 

 where there are varieties of it with double flowers ami variegated 



II. leueoearpa ('D. C. Prod.,' iii. p. 239). Fruit white. Native of 

 Greece and the Balearic Isle*. The fruit of this is rather large, edible, 

 with a grateful taste and smell. 



The above varieties are constant, but there are others in the garden 

 which are more variable, such as the Gold-Striped Broad-Leaved 

 Myrtle, Broad-Leaved Jew's Myrtle, Gold-Striped-Leaved Orauge- 

 Myrtle, Silver-Striped Italian Myrtle, Striped Box-Leaved Myrtle, 

 Silver-Striped Rosemary-Leaved Myrtle, Silver-Striped Nutmeg Myrtle, 

 Cockscomb or Bird's-Nest Myrtle, Spotted-Leaved Myrtle. 



About 40 other species of Myrtle besides those of the old genus 

 Myrtui, now referred to the genera Myrcia, Syiyyium, Eugenia, Ac., 

 have been described. [El'uEMA.] None of them yield products used 

 in arts or medicine, and only a few of them have been cultivated. 



It. lomentoia is a native of Cochin China. It is a handsome 

 shrub, and has been found to grow well against walls in the south of 

 England. 



M. nummularia is a creeping species found at tho Straits of Magal- 

 haens; and M. myriinoida, a native of the colder parts of Peru, would 

 probably be found to be half-hardy in this climate. 



(London, Arboretum Britannicum ; Fraas, Synoptit Flora Clatncce : 

 Burnett, Outline! of Botany ; Lindley, Flora Medico.) 

 MYRTUS PIMEXTO. [PIMENTO.] 

 MYSCA (Turton), a genus of Mollutca. 

 MYSCOLUS, a genus of Plants belonging to the natural order 

 Compotitit. The young root* of M. Hitpanicut are eaten. 

 MYSia [STOMAPODA.] 

 MYSTICETK. [CKTACEA.] 

 MYSTU8, a genus of Malacopterygious Abdominal Fishes belonging 

 to the family SUurida. They are found in the waters of Guyana. 



M YTELES, a genus of Malacopterygious Abdominal Fishes belonging 

 to the family Salmonida. One of the American species is eatable. 

 MYTILACEA. [MrriLiD*.] 

 MYTl'LID^E, a family of Lamellibrancbiate Molluita. It includes 

 the species referred by Linnaeus to the genus Mytilui. This genus, as 

 it was left by the author in bis last edition of the ' Systema Naturae, 

 was divided into three sections. The first, ' Parasitic!, unguibus affiii, 

 consisted of those species which are affixed by uuguicular appendages to 

 (Jorgonia and other submarine bodies, both organic and inorganic, such 

 u Mytilui Critta (Jalli, M. Jfyolii, and M. Front, which have been since 

 restored to the genus Oitrea. The second, 'Plaai s. couipressi, ut plan 

 appareant et subauriti,' consisted of the Pearl-Bearing Muscle (MatrU 

 ixrlartu*), under the name of Mytilui moiyoritiferui, now separated 



.I/* ' 



.... 



of, 



genetically under the names of Meleoyrina and Margarita [AviCULA 

 M AI.LEAC-K.V] ; and Myiilui **guii, a species, if it be one, not large 

 than the human nail. The third, ' Vcntricosiusculi,' comprised no 

 only the true MytUi, of which MytUtu tdulii (the Common Muscle- 

 may be considered as the type, but also the M. lithophagui, th< 

 ilodiol<r, the true Avicula (Mytilui Ilirundo), and the Fresh- Wate 

 Muscles (Anodon). The generic definition of this heterogeneous 

 assemblage was Mytilti. The animal an art-id ia (?). The shel 

 bivalve, rough (rudis), most frequently affixed by a byssus. Th. 

 hinge toothless, marked (distinct us) by an excavated longitudina 

 subulate line. Linnicus placed this genus between Anomia and 

 Pinna, [MAI.ACOLour.1 



Cuvier makes the Mytilacvs the second family of his Testaceous 

 Acephalous Molluscs. _ He characterises the family M having th 

 mantle open in front, but with a separate aperture for tho excrements, 

 adding that all these bivalve* have a foot serving the purpose of creep 

 ing, or at least to draw out, direct, and fix the byssus. They are, h 

 state*, in conclusion, known under the generic name of Moules 



(Muscles). 



This family Cuvier subdivides into 



I. The True or Marine Muscles (Moules Propres ou Moules <1 

 Mer; Mytilui Linn.) 



In this subdivision an placed Mytilui (If. tdulii and iU congeners) 

 Modiola (Lam.), and Lilk'tdumui (Cuv.). 



IL The Anodonts (Anotlontei, llrug.), vulgarly Pond-Muscles 

 (Moules d'Etang). 



III. Les Mulctcs (Univ., Brug.) commonly called the Painters 



Muscles, including tlyria and Caitalia (Lamarck). 



IV. Cardita. (Brug.) 



V. Ci/pricardia. (Lam.) 

 VI. Les Coralliophages. (De Blaiuv.) 



Venericardia he considers OK differing but little from Canllta, and 

 observes that both the one and the other approach C'ardium 

 u general form and the direction of the ribs (cotes). He states his 

 uspicious that this U the place for Crauatella. 



This family is placed by Cuvier between the Ostrace'i and the 

 amocees. 



The genus Pinna is placed by this zoologist between Aricula and 

 Area. 



Lamarck characterised his Mytilacoes as having the hinge with a 

 ub-internal marginal linear very entire ligament, occupying a great 

 >art of the anterior border, and the shell rarely foliated. In this 

 "miily he places the genera Modiola, Mytilui, and Pinna. 



M. De Blainville thus characterises the Mytilacea, which he places 

 >etween the Maryaritacea and the A rcacea or Polyodonta. Tha genus 

 Avicula among the Maryaritacta thus immediately precedes the 

 Mytilacea. 



Mantle adhering towards the borders, slit throughout its inferior 

 >ordera, with a dUtinct orifice for the anus, and an indication of the 

 iranchial orifice by the more considerable thickening of its posterior 

 x>rders ; a caualiculated linguiform foot, with a byssus backwards at 

 ts base ; two adductor muscles, the anterior of which is very small, 

 resides the two pair of retractor muscles of the foot 



Shell regular, equivalve, often furnished with an epidermis, or cor- 

 neus, with a toothless hinge, and a linear dorsal ligament. 



The genera placed in this family by M. De Blaiuville are .Vylilat, 

 with its subdivisions, and Pinna. 



M. Rang gives the following as the characters of the family 

 Mytilace's : 



Animal having the mantle open throughout its inferior part, and 

 adhering towards the borders ; a separate aperture behind for the 

 excrements, forming very rarely a tube ; the foot linguiform, canali- 

 culated, and furnished with a byssus behind. 



Shell rather delicate, generally with on epidermis, or corneus, 

 equivalve, but very inequilateral ; the hinge toothless ; the ligament 

 linear ; anterior muscular impression very small ; the posterior one 

 rather large. 



Marine (the genus 3/ytilut alone presents a species which is said to 

 live iu fresh water). (' Manuel,' Ac.) 



The genera arranged by M. Rang under this family are Mytilui, 

 with its subdivisions, including Modiola, Lithodomui (Cuv.), and 

 Pinna. 



Mr. G. B. Sowerby ('Genera'), after remarking that the Linnican 

 genus Mytilui, on account of its principal character being its want of 

 hinge teeth, consists of several forms that are widely distinct from 

 each other, and which have well served as the types of several 

 Lamarckian genera, such as Avicula, Modiola, Anotlon, and others, in 

 connection with the present genus, which deservedly retains the name 

 of Mytilui, both on account of its form and the priority of its claim, 

 proceeds to observe that the other genera which have been united with 

 it, but from which it appears necessary to distinguish it, because of a 

 certain degree of general resemblance, are Modiola and Liihodomui : 

 from Anodon and Avicvla, together with Lamarck's Mcleayrina, it is, 

 ho adds, obviously distinct ; whilst one character namely, the 

 pointed terminal umbones serves to distinguish it from Modiola aud 

 Lithodomui. 



Mr. Garner, in his paper 'On the Anatomy of the Lamcllibrauchiate 

 Conchifera ' (' ZooL Trans.,' vol. ii.), U disposed to regard the dispo- 

 sition and form of the branchito aud siphons as being of great use in 

 the classification of those animals ; and he instances Anomia, 1'ccten, 

 Area, Modiola, Unto, Ac., as each having a particular dis]>osition of 

 the branchiae, sac of the mantle, valves, siphons, Ac., giving rise to 

 particular modifications of the course of the aerating currents of 

 water to the brancbirc. He observe?, that iu the grucr.i, some of 

 whii-h are above mentioned, no complete division of the sac of the 

 mantle exists; while in Solen, J/ialella, Pholia, Ac., a different dispo- 

 sition takes place. With regard to the excretory system, he found 

 the oviduct distinct from the sac in Modiola, Mytiliu, Lithodomui, Ac. ; 

 whilst in TMina. Canlium, Mactra, Pholat, Mya, and most others, the 

 ova are discharged into the excretory organs. With reference to the 

 reproductive nystam, Mr. Garner remark* that the ovaries of tho 

 l/aniellibranchinU; Concliifera differ iinirh in their situation : Home- 

 times they form distinct parts sometimes they are found in the foot 

 sometimes they are ramified in the mantle which last <li-.|.<.siti..n 

 U present in Modiola, Anomia, Lithodomui, Hiatelln, and the lik<-. 



The same author, in his 'Anatomical Classification of the Lamelli- 

 branchiata,' thus arranges the genera Mytilui, Modiola, J'inna, 

 Lithodomui, and I'nio : 



