PLATE CXXVIII. 



may be accidentally eaten with it : others think it is in consequence 

 of swallowing the silky byssus, or beard ; and again many deem the 

 Muscle itself poisonous. It is, however, pretty generally agreed, 

 that they affect some constitutions more thaii others, and that much 

 depends on the state of the body at the time of eating them. I'he 

 disorder may be cured, or at least its malignity mitigated* by ad- 

 ministering to the affected person a spoonful of vinegar: some re- 

 commend sweet oil, or salt and water. Da Costa observes that su- 

 dorifics, vomits, oils, &c. are the usual remedies ; and the Dutch 

 give two spoon's-full of oil, and one of lemon-juice ; or, in defect of 

 that, a little more vinegar, well shakcii together, and swallowed 

 immediately. 



The Muscle is the prey of many kinds of fishes, and other crea- 

 tures that inhabit the sea. On the coast of Greenland, Fabricius 

 te'ls us, they are so abundant, that the dogs and ravens commonly 

 feed on them ; as do also the 'a hite gune, (Ptarniigan) l^idcr Duck, 

 and many others. 



The seed-pearls found In the shell of the Muscle was fcirinerly in 

 some esteem, for medicinal purposes ; these, it is well known, are 

 the effects of a disease in the hsh, analogous to tb.e sion.c in the 

 human body. 



Mr. Pennant informs us, that the finest Mu-^cles on the English 

 coasts (where they are found in great abundance) are tliose called! 

 Ilambleton Hookers, from a village in the county of Lancashire. 

 They are taken out of the sea, and placed in the river Wier, within 

 reach of the tide, where they grow very fat and delicious. 



