THE BANDED VENUS-SHELL. 



431 



belief; and I have frequently seen more than would load a donkey collected in one tide by 

 the children of a single cabin. They form a valuable and wholesome addition to the 

 limited variety that the Irish peasant boasts at his humble board ; and afford children, too 

 young for other tasks, a safe end useful employment." 



This mollusc frequents sandy bays, and remains about low-water mark, burying itself 

 in the sand by means of the powerful foot, which also enables it to leap to a surprising 

 height. 



IN the front of the opposite engraving is seen the common HEART-COCKLE, and on the 

 left is the remarkable SPIRAL HEART-COCKLE, notable for the boldly spiral umbones. 

 In the illustration, the partly opened valves permit a portion of the animal to be seen, 

 including the two orifices of the siphon, through which water is injected and expelled, and 

 the foot, which is seen protruding in a tongue-like fashion shortly below the siphon. 



This animal is in the habit of burrowing in the sand, leaving only the openings of 

 the siphon above the surface. These organs are also represented in the figure of the 

 TUBERCULATED COCKLE, where the double ends of the siphon are shown projecting towards 

 the left hand, and are at once recognisable by their fringed edges ; and the large foot is 

 seen below, carrying the superstructure along. Even when taken out of the water, 

 the Cockles are very lively ; and if placed in a pan of basin they tumble about with 

 great energy, knocking their shells against each other and the sides of the vessel with 

 remarkable activity. 



BRITISH CYTHEREA. Cytherto 



BANDED VENUS-SHELL. Venus fascidta. 



WE now come to a group of these shells where the siphons are extremely long. The 

 first family is represented by the BANDED VENUS-SHELL, so called on account of its beautiful 

 colours and elegant form, and the bands which traverse its surface. All the Venus-shells 

 are handsome, and have well deserved their name. The shells are extremely hard in 

 texture, thick, and smooth, and are mostly found in the warmer seas. 



It is from one of these shells that the American Indians make the well-known 

 wampum. They examine the sea-coast, pick up the fragments of Venus-shells that have 

 been broken and battered by the waves, shape them rudely into form, bore holes through 

 them, and thread them on slender thongs of raw hide. Now-a-days, however, the metallic 

 coinage of the European has superseded the wampum of the red man, just as the 



