O F F I S H E S. 403 



43. Of the Mytuhts major margaratifents, or great Pearl-Mufcle (x), 

 I have gathered very large ones in the Tweed, the ^?/, and North 

 and Scw^ jy j fome of thofe of the Tweed and the Tyne wrinkled, 

 twifted, or bunched, which are noted for having the beft pearls, 

 but it was never my fortune, to find any in them. The Britijh 

 pearl was a lure for the Roman eagle, and was efteemed by Ju- 

 lius Ctefar as a reward for his victories*. Venerable Bede, our 

 countryman, takes notice of them, and gives them high enco- 

 miums for their beauty : their colours various ; a maiden-blufli, 

 purple, and fome emulating a gem, the glowing Jacinth, but 

 moil of them white f. Their origin is afcribed to the fame 

 caufe as the ftonc in animals, from fome of which ftones 

 have been taken like feed-pearl, fmooth and mining like 

 burnifhed gold ; the external coat preferring its brightnefs in 

 fpirit of vinegar, and as difficult to be dhTolved in it as true 

 pearls J. 



43. The/mail Mufcle (y) is frequent with the former in the fame 

 rivers ; the fhells broad and flender. 



44. The longjlender Mufcle (z) is found in great abundance in the 

 Tyne and the Aln, where I have often obferved it, with its valves 

 open, near the banks, on a fine funny day (a) 



(x) Li/1. Angl. Append, t. i. f. i. 

 * Tacitus, in vita /Igrlcvlts. 



f Sunt mufculs, quibus inclufam fa?pe margaritam, omnis quidem colons, optimam in- 

 vcniunt, id eft, et rubicund!, et purpurei, etjacintini, et Prafmi, fed maxime candidi. 



Bed. Hift. Eccles. L. i. C. i. Edit. Opt. 



% Dr. Jebnflon'* Letter to M. Lifter, Ph. Tr. No. 101. Dr. Widtfiu!* Oblcrvat. 246. 

 p. 439. in the German Philofophic Epbemeridcs for the Year 1672. 



(y) Lift. Angl. App. t. i. f. 2. (z) Id. App. t. i. f. 3. 



(a] Lift. Angl. t. 2. f. 31. 



F f f 2 45- The 



