PHOLADIDJ3. 



S29 



if they had swallowed phosphorus ; and the fisherman who, in a spirit 

 of economy, supped on this mollusc in the dark, would give to his 

 little ones the spectacle of a fire-eater on a small scale. 



Fig. 132. Pholas crispata (Linnasus). 



The perforations produced in stone hy the Pholades have become 

 important evidence in a geological sense. In many countries there 



Fig. 133. Pholas papyracea (Solander). 



Fig. 134. Tliolas melanoura (Sowerby). 



were evident signs of a considerable sinking of the earth. But in no 

 place is the evidence of this so clear as in the monument of high an- 

 tiquity on the Pozzuolan coast, known as the Temple of Serapis. 



In speaking of the culture of oysters by the Komans, we shall have 

 occasion to mention the disappearance of the Lucrin Lake, and its 

 replacement by an enormous mountain, the Monte Nuovo. Now, 

 Pozzuolo is situated at the foot of Monte Nuovo. We need not add 



