MYA GAPER. 153 



rapid rivers of America, and by their solid 

 and thick shells manifest the providential care 

 that fitted them for the dangerous spots they 

 occupy. When we look at the ponderous 

 Mya driven by the powerful torrent, and com- 

 pare it with the light and delicate lanthina, 

 borne gently on the surface of the waves, shall 

 we coldly attribute such adaptation to circum- 

 stances to the blind dealing of chance, and not 

 rather delight to recognise the beneficent wis- 

 dom of our heavenly Father, pervading all his 

 works, and suiting each animal to the place he 

 assigns it? 



The Mya Margaratifera is found in several 

 of our rivers, particularly those of Wales ; also 

 in Ireland, where the peasantry use the valves 

 as spoons. This species has long been celebra- 

 ted for producing pearls of a good colour and 

 sometimes of a considerable size. These orna- 

 ments appear to be exclusively the production 

 of the bivalve testacea, and are found only in 

 the shells which have a coating of mother-of- 

 pearl in the inside of their valves. Pearls are 

 said to be produced by a disease of the animal, 

 occasioning a partial secretion of the sub- 

 stance, which forms the inner coating of the 

 shell. The British islands, especially Ireland, 

 have been noted for their pearl fisheries. The 

 Conway was formerly celebrated for this pro- 

 duction : a large one which was taken in that 

 river, and presented by Sir Richard Wynne the 

 chamberlain, to Catherine the consort of Charles 

 II. is said still to adorn the British crown. 



