PHOLAS MUSSEL COCKLE. 85 



must not forget to mention, connected with the 

 Pholades. This is their phosphorescence. " This 

 property has long been known. It is even mentioned 

 by Pliny. The creature is said to secrete a certain 

 luminiferous fluid, which causes everything on which 

 it falls to shine with a pale phosphorescence. M. De 

 Blainville says, that the Pholades are the most lumi- 

 nous of all molluscous animals; and he even relates, 

 that those who eat the animal raw, in the dark 

 appear, in a most awe-inspiring fashion, to be breath- 

 ing flames ! * This phosphorescent quality is most 

 powerful the fresher the animal is, disappearing if 

 dried, and reviving, it is said, by the addition of a 

 little salt water. The cheering beams of the solar 

 ray cannot light this patient miner to its work, nor 

 penetrate to the confines of its cell ; but the Creator has 

 given it ' a light to its dwelling,' wholly independent 

 of the great source of light to the world around ; and 

 this pale, gentle, lambent flame makes, what other- 

 wise would have been a dismal gloomy cave, a light 

 and cheerful home" (?) "throughout the long years of 

 the creature's existence." 



This extract is from an able paper in Chambers s 

 Journal, June 1849. The writer thus concludes his 

 history of the Pholas family : 



" We have mentioned the Pholades as the enemies 

 of man in some respects" (boring into the foundations 

 of wooden piers, &c.) ; " we may, in conclusion, advert 



* This peculiarity I have never been able to detect in even 

 the slightest degree. 



