472 THE AQUARIAN NATURALIST. 



the earlier stages of its growth. The Rev. David 

 Landsborough writes thus : " We observed on a 

 sunny September day, in a pool of sea- water left on 

 Stevenston strand (Ayrshire) by the ebbing tide, what 

 we at first thought some of the scaly brood at play. 

 On close investigation, however, we found it was the 

 fry of Pecten opercularis, skipping quite nimbly 

 through the pool. Their motion was rapid and zig- 

 zag, very like that of ducks in a sunny blink rejoicing 

 in the prospect of rain. They seemed to have the 

 power of darting like an arrow through the water, by 

 the sudden opening and closing of their valves. One 

 jerk carried them some yards, and then by another 

 jerk they were off in a moment on a different tack. 

 We doubt not, that when full-grown, they engage in 

 similar amusements; though, as Pectens of greater 

 gravity, they may choose to romp unseen and play 

 their gambols in the deep." 



Many bivalve mollusca possess the power of fasten- 

 ing themselves to foreign objects by means of tena- 

 cious threads, formed by the agency of their " foot " 

 and as the Scallop is not a very favourable subject for 

 enabling the young naturalist to study this part of 

 their oeconomy, we should recommend the addition 

 of two or three specimens of the common mussel 

 (Mytilus edulis) to the stock of the aquarium, as, by 

 observing them under favourable circumstances, the 

 reader will be enabled readily to witness their mode 

 of proceeding whilst employed in the construction of 

 these elegant anchors. Opening their valves, the foot 

 will be seen to be protruded with various strains and 

 stretches, and gradually thrust out, until the elongation 



