S26 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Common, or edible muscle. 



point the gluten supplied by a gland situated 

 under its base, and drawing out, through the 

 furrow, into threads. When the muscle is thus 

 fixed, it lives upon the little earthy particles, or 

 upon the bodies of such smaller animals as the 

 water transports to its shells. 



The common, or edible muscle, is found ad- 

 hering to rocks both in the European and Indian 

 seas, but it grows to a much greater size between 

 the tropics than northward. It abounds on the 

 British shores, being the most common of shell 

 fish, and is generally esteemed a rich and whole- 

 some food; but to some constitutions it often 

 occasions disorders, the symptoms of which are 

 great swellings, eruptions of blotches or pimples, 

 shortness of breath, convulsive motions, and 

 sometimes even delirium. This unwholesome 

 quality has been attributed to a small species of 

 crab that sometimes is found in the shells of the 

 muscle. It seems, however, not to have its seat 

 in any thing essential to the muscle ; for, when 

 accidents of this kind have happened, some per- 

 sons have been affected, and others have not, 

 who have eaten at the same time, and at least in 

 equal quantity. The following remedy is recom- 

 mended for any illness occasioned by eating mus- 

 cles. Take two spoons-full of oil, and one of 

 lemon juice, (or, in want of this, about two of 

 vinegar,) which must be well shaken together, 

 and swallowed as soon as any of the symptoms 

 take place. 



