146 PISH. 



PHOLAS, PIERCE-STONE, OR PIDDUCK. 



The pholas (as their name derived from the 

 Greek ^wXtuw imports) "seek a hiding-place" in 

 all kinds of rocky fragments, and even in wood, 

 piercing the substance while they are young, and 

 gradually increasing the dimensions of their cell 

 as they become larger by growth. At Salcombe, 

 on the south coast of Devon, there is a bay which, 

 when the spring tides ebb out, leaves a large 

 space uncovered, composed wholly of decayed 

 wood, evidently the remains of a forest over- 

 whelmed in ages bygone ; it is composed mostly 

 of oak trees, but on digging into it you often find 

 leaves of various kinds of trees, amongst others, 

 the hazel, the twigs, and even the nuts, having 

 been preserved by the sand covering every- 

 thing with a thick coating, and so excluding the 

 air. I have dug quantities of the pholas from 

 this decayed wood when a boy, as they are much 

 valued for bait, especially for spiller fishing, when 

 they are known by the local name of " Fculpens." 

 Naturalists say there arc five varieties of this 

 curious animal. 



