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They fland upright, with the large end about an inch 

 above the furface ; the lower end fixed by a very large, 

 ftrong hyJfiLS, fo firmly attached to the gravel, that much 

 force is required to draw them up; and mofl: commonly 

 the hyjfiis is left behind. This beard is compofed of nu- 

 merous, fine, filk-like fibres, of a dark purplifli-brown, 

 two or three inches in length. The larger end of the 

 fliell is naturally a little open, and cannot be clofed by art, 

 but the animal is capable of effetling it: the beaks of the 

 valves rarely cover each other exaftly. 



Some of thefe fhells have been taken annually for many 

 years, the animal having been accounted very good food; 

 but they require at leafl five or fix hours Hewing, to ren- 

 der them eatable : if this is properly attended to, they are 

 nearly as good as Scallops, but never fo tender. 



The bank, on which thefe fiiells are found, probably 

 increafes, fo that the water leaves a greater part bare, at 

 every fpring tide, than formerly ; and in confequence they 

 become an eafy prey to Crows and Gulls : few are now to 

 be obtained, but at fome unufual low tide. 



We have taken them of all fizes, from one inch to one 

 foot in length, and from their general habit cannot liken 

 them to any of the Limiman fpecies. One of the largelt, 

 after the animal was taken out, weighed feventeen ounces. 

 The animal is very difproportionate to the fliell, not oc- 

 cupying one half of it. 



That 



