MOLLUSCA. 223 



There are several bivalve shells, besides those which we 

 have mentioned, employed on our coasts as articles of sub- 

 sistence. The Scallop (Pecten) was held in high estima- 

 tion by the ancients, and still is sought after in Catholic 

 countries. The Pecten maximus is frequently used in Eng- 

 land. It is found gregarious in moderately deep water, 

 and is taken up by the dredge. It is pickled and barrelled 

 for sale, and esteemed a great delicacy. The fishermen 

 suppose that they are taken in the greatest quantity after a 

 fall of snow. Another species, the Pecten opercularis, is 

 employed for culinary purposes in Cornwall, where it is 

 known by the name of Frills or Queens. In the Firth of 

 Forth this species is frequently dredged up along with oys- 

 ters, but it is thrown, by the Newhaven fishermen, to the 

 dunghill, along with sea urchins and star-fish. To this list 

 we might add the Mactra solida, which is used as food by 

 the common people about Dartmouth ; and the Venus pul- 

 lastra, called by the inhabitants of Devonshire, Pullet, and 

 eaten by them, and known to the inhabitants of the North- 

 ern Islands by the name of Cullyock, and there used as a 

 bait. According to Bruguiere, the Anomia ephippium is 

 used as food at Languedoc, and is there considered as pre- 

 ferable to the oyster. But it is now time that we turn our 

 attention to the univalve shells, in order to ascertain their 

 value in an economical point of view. 



The common Periwinkle (Turbo littoreous) is, in this 

 country, more extensively used as food than any of the other 

 testaceous univalves. This shell is easily gathered, as it is 

 found on all our rocks which are left uncovered by the ebb- 

 ing of the tide. Children are principally employed in this 

 fishery, and the shells are sold by measure. They are in 

 general used after being plainly boiled, and are consumed 



