IQJ BY THE DEEP SEA. 



lighter and darker tints. The interior is white and glossy, 

 deepening to pink or yellow towards the beak and hinge. 



The Golden Carpet-shell ( Tapes aured) is similar, but some 

 shade of yellow takes the place of the pink in the last-mentioned 

 species. 



The Pullet Carpet-shell (T. pullastra) is broader from the 

 hinge to the edge of the shell, in proportion to its length at 

 right angles with that measurement. Its name, pullastra 

 (Latin, a pullet), has evidently a relation to its colouring, which 

 is similar to that of virginea, though darker. If the two are 

 compared it will be found there is a further difference in the 

 fact that whilst virginea can scarcely be said to have any 

 radiate-grooves, pullastra is covered with them ; but they are 

 not appreciable to the sense of touch, and scarcely so to 

 ordinary eyesight, unless special attention is drawn to them 

 they are so exceedingly finely cut. Inside, the shell is white, 

 that part lying between the impressions and the hinge being 

 dull like the whole interior of decussataj but the impressions 

 and the outer margin are polished. 



The Tapes animals spin a byssus like the Mussel ; they 

 buirow in the sand at low-water with their thick fleshy foot, or 

 spin up to the roots of Laminaria and other seaweeds among 

 the low-water rocks. Around the shores of the European 

 continent they are used as food, but do not appear to be so 

 utilised in Britain. 



The Scallops are familiar to all in a general way, from the 

 frequency with which one species occurs on the fishmongers' 

 slabs. This is the largest British species, and is generally 

 distinguished as the Common Scallop, Quin or Queen (Pecten 

 opercularis], a deep-water species, whose valves are frequently 

 washed up on the beach. They occur in beds, but are not 

 fixed like the Oyster ; on the contrary, by the sudden closing 

 of their valves and the consequent rapid expulsion of water, 

 the shell shoots hinge foremost through the water to some 

 considerable distance. The young ones can attach themselves 



