68 



CLASS CONCHIFERA. 



usually strewed with large stones. In France great 

 care is bestowed on the management of these preserves ; 

 the Oysters are placed by hand on the stones, with the 

 largest shell downwards, and at times the water is let 

 off, and they are freed from all mud and dirt that may 

 have collecte;!, by having large quantities of water 

 poured over them. A fashion existed formerly in France 

 of preferring those Oysters which had a tinge of green, 

 and great pains were taken to cause this change of colour 

 to take place, by placing the animals where they could 

 obtain a peculiar kind of green food. 



The Great Comb Shell, {Pecten maximus.) 



This shell, although it has the name of the Great 

 Peclen, is not the largest of the numerous tribe to which 

 it belongs; it is found in all the European seas. The 



Pecten moxinius. 



Malleus albus. 



regular nature of the fluting with which it is covered, 

 and the elegance of its markings, have brought it much 



