OSTREA OYSTER, SCALLOP. 179 



scaly lamina ; the colour generally dark gray or 

 blackish ; inside very glossy, pearly, and tinged 

 with blue ; it is about five or six inches long, 

 and four or five across from the extremities of 

 the two lateral robes. 



This shell is much prized on account of its 

 very singular appearance. It is found in the In- 

 dian Ocean : its animal forms a byssus which 

 passes through a small opening in the shell near 

 the beaks. 



PEGTEN MaximuB. 



GREAT SCALLOP. 



Specific character. Shell inequivalve, with 

 equal auricles ; upper valve flattish, depressed 

 near the hinge, lower valve convex ; the surface 

 has about fourteen rounded ribs, is longitudinally 

 grooved, and very finely striated transversely ; 

 the lower valve is white, tinged with red ; upper 

 valve reddish brown or spotted with pink and 

 brown ; inside white with a rufous brown margin ; 

 length five inches, breadth six. 



This shell is not uncommon on some of our 

 coasts, particularly at the mouth of large rivers ; 

 it is frequently sold for the use of the table, and 

 is much esteemed as a nutritious diet. It is 

 asserted by fishermen, that they are taken in the 

 greatest quantities after a fall of snow. This 

 was the species worn by the Pilgrims to the 

 Holy Land. 



