43 



THE PRICKLY COCKLE. 



In former days, when this species was very rare, a magnificent specimen was pre- 

 sented to the church of St. Sulpice, in Paris, where it may now be seen, the valves being 

 set up as benitiers for containing the holy water. This shell dates from the time of 

 Francis I. It is evident that the byssus by which so enormous a shell is moored to 

 the rocks must be of great size and strength, and indeed, is so strong as to require an 

 axe for its severance. The muscles, too, by which the animal contracts its shell are 

 enormously powerful ; and it has been remarked by Mr. Darwin, that if a man were to 

 put his hand into one of these shells, he would not be able to withdraw it as long as 

 the animal lived. 



ON the left hand of the illustration on the previous page is seen the SPOTTED 

 BEAR'S-PAW CLAM, which has been placed in a separate genus on account of a difference 

 in the number of projections on the hinge, technically called hinge-teeth. The ani- 



HEART-COCKLE.-Csrrf/um cardlssa. 

 SPIRAL HEART.COCKLE.-/socarrf/a cor. TUBERCULATED COCKLE. Cardlum tuberculatum. 



mal has been represented in this peculiar manner for the purpose of displaying the 

 mouth, which is marked by the coronet-like circlet around it, and the foot, which is 

 seen below just projecting from its groove. This animal also spins a byssus, which 

 is, however, weak and slight compared with that of the gigantic species just described. 



THE family of the Cockles, or Cardiadas, so called from their heart-like shape, is 

 well represented by the common COCKLE (Cdrdium edule) of our British shores. Gen- 

 erally, the COCKLE is a marine animal ; but it sometimes prefers brackish water to the 

 salt waves of the ocean ; and a small variety is found in the Thames nearly as high 

 as Greenwich, when the water is sensibly flavored with salt at each high tide. Another 

 species, the PRICKLY COCKLE (Cardium aculedtuni), is found on the southern coast, 

 and regularly brought to market. 



The Cockle is gathered in great numbers for the purpose of being eaten, although, as 

 the greater number are consumed in the open air, they can hardly be said to be procured 

 for the table. According to Mr. Maxwell, " a crowd of the more youthful description of the 

 peasantry are collected every spring tide to gather Cockles on the sands by daylight when 

 the tide overruns. The quantities of these shell-fish thus procured would almost exceed 



