OSTREA OYSTER, SCALLOP. 181 



purpose ; and in commemoration of this super- 

 stitious act of devotion, it was often granted them 

 to have Pectens engraved in their coats of arms, 

 that a record of their religious zeal might be 

 handed down to posterity. 



The shells of the second division differ from 

 the Pectens as much in their habits as in their 

 appearance. They are reputed to be some 

 of the most sluggish of animals, and to have very 

 limited powers and faculties ; but whilst we 

 cannot fail to observe this destitution, we trace 

 the goodness of the Creator, who has placed them 

 in situations not exposed to danger, and bestowed 

 upon them an organization that requires but 

 little to satisfy it. The only nourishment they 

 need is brought to them by the ever-flowing 

 waves, and they scarcely exhibit any symptom 

 o life, but that of opening their valves to 

 receive the water, and then closing them for 

 security. Firmly attached to the rocks, and 

 enclosed within their strong testaceous dwelling, 

 they are protected against surrounding dangers. 

 They sometimes effect a change in their posi- 

 tion by a curious contrivance ; they manage to 

 bolster up one valve in the sand or mud, and 

 having thus fixed themselves erect, they open 

 their shells, and the flowing or reflux of the tide 

 forces them over by the pressure of the water. 

 The animal has neither siphon nor foot. 



