BIVALVES AND CUTTLES. 277 



lovely pink. It swims in a way which casts the efforts of 

 the scallops into the shade, and as it jerks rapidly through 

 the water it trails behind it a long mantle-fringe of rosy 

 pink, forming altogether a picture which once seen is 

 not easily forgotten. My own first experience of it was a 

 memorable one. It was on my first dredging expedition, 

 and the scene was the broad waters of the Clyde. The 

 wind blew strong and fresh, dashing the salt spray over the 

 side of the little yacht, as she heeled under the pressure of 

 her heavy dredge; but it was not strong enough to damp 

 the ardour of the enthusiasts, who clung desperately to any 

 available rope in their anxiety lest some treasure should 

 escape their notice. There were many treasures in the 

 heavy net, but perhaps the greatest were the rough-looking 

 masses of stones, shells, and weeds fastened together by 

 byssus threads, which we were told were the nests of Lima. 

 When carefully broken, these nests disclosed the animal 

 itself lying snugly in the centre. They were dropped into 

 jars of clean water, and instantly began to swim rapidly, 

 trailing their beautiful fringes behind them. They would 

 be beautiful in any situation, but seen against a background 

 of blue hills, with the fresh breeze in one's face, the blue 

 waters around, and the rocking boat beneath, there was 

 certainly an added charm. For my own part I cannot 

 think that a thousand daffodils can be so fair a sight as half 

 a dozen Limas, let the yellow bells dance never so merrily. 

 The memory of that first day has at least made the animals 

 particularly dear to me. 



This particular species, L. Mans, does not occur on the 

 East Coast, so a journey must be made to the "West to find 

 it. The shell shows much general resemblance to a scallop, 

 but is longer in proportion to its breadth, and has less 

 prominent ears than most scallops. The shell gapes at both 

 sides, and is marked by numerous fine radiating lines, 

 crossed by other concentric lines. The animal also shows 

 much resemblance to a scallop, but its tentacles are much 

 longer and more numerous, and the curious habit of nest- 

 building also affords a contrast. Except in the extreme 

 South the animal is confined to deep water. 



The third genus of the order, that of the oyster, is of 

 more interest to the epicure than the shore naturalist. The 



