1 88 LOCH C RERAN. 



sea. Now we are at the sea verge, we diligently dig out 

 towards the end of the seaward tending promontory, now 

 turning up a razor shell, now a cockle, a venus, or a tapes, 

 until we come to the region of the mushkinfJ/j'fl truticata), 

 which is considered one of the best of our edible shell- 

 fish, and is readily distinguished by its long, black, 

 leathery nose, that is promptly withdrawn on the approach 

 of danger. All these shellfish are to be found at this 

 time of all sizes, small by degrees and beautifully less, as 

 a rule, the nearer we dig to the shore. They have 

 consequently been spawning for some time, as we find 

 them so graduated up to maturity. The question 

 suggests itself how these seemingly sedentary shellfish, 

 living in the gravel or mud, can progress seaward as they 

 mature ; for this they must do, or otherwise the full-grown 

 specimens would be found among the small fry inshore ! 

 Although we seldom see them in motion, yet these shell- 

 fish, provided with strong " feet," can push themselves 

 along vigorously, and no doubt will take advantage of 

 the reflux of the tide to remove to more suitable premises. 

 This is a very difficult matter to understand in the case 

 of Mycs, with their large shells so deep in the ground ; 

 but it seems as if we could come to no other conclusion 

 to account for their distribution. It is with many of 

 these shellfish as with other common creatures, their very 

 multitude and universality has prevented their receiving 

 that attention less interesting but rarer forms receive. 

 And so it is that their spawning seasons and mode of 

 increase is so little understood, although thousands of 

 tons of cockles, those most delightful of the edible 

 bivalves scarcely excepting the oyster are annually 

 consumed. The only distinct statement the inspectors 

 could elicit concerning them from the fishermen was 



