166 HABITS OF THE MUSSEL. 



precedented facilities for cheap travelling for the 

 most inland inhabitants, there may be many per- 

 sons to whom the sight of a Mussel fixed to a 

 boulder by its self-constructed cable, would be as 

 great a novelty as it was to the eloquent author of 

 Rasselas. 



It is, however, one of the commonest appearances 

 which meet the eye of those in the habit of visiting 

 the sea-shore. At certain localities myriads of Mus- 

 sels may be noticed attached to the surface of the 

 rocks. So thickly are these sometimes covered over, 

 that the blade of a knife cannot be inserted at any 

 part without touching one or more of the esculent 

 bivalves that are to form the subject of this 

 chapter. 



The Mussel anchors itself by means of the 

 Byssus; or, as it is commonly termed, the 'beard.' 

 This appendage is composed of various slender 

 threads which are attached to any object within 

 reach, whether such be the shell of a neighbouring 

 Mussel, a small stone, or huge boulder. The mem- 

 bers of each colony are thereby bound together, it 

 may be figuratively said, by the silken cords of 

 friendship, and mayhap of love. The Mytili evi- 

 dently believe that ' there's no place like home/ Al- 

 though gifted with a power of moving about at will, 

 they never attempt to exercise this when living to- 

 gether in a family circle, but pass through life's 

 stages upon the spot where they were born. Cer- 



