564 THE DACTYLE PHOLAS. 



Thus immured, the Pholas lives in darkness, in- 

 dolence, and plenty ; it never removes from the 

 narrow mansion into which it has penetrated ; and 

 seems perfectly content with being inclosed in its 

 own sepulchre. The influx of the sea-water that 

 enters by its little gallery satisfies all its wants; 

 and, without any other food, it is found to grow 

 from five to eight inches long, and thick in pro- 

 portion. 



Yet the Pholas, thus shut up, is not so solitary an 

 animal as would at first appear ; for though it is im- 

 mured in its hole, without egress, though it is im- 

 possible for the animal, grown to a great size, to get 

 out by the way it made to get in, yet many of this 

 kind often meet in the heart of the rock ; and, like 

 miners in a siege (who sometimes cross each other's 

 galleries), they frequently break in upon each other's- 

 retreats. They are commonly found in great num- 

 bers in the same rock, and sometimes above twenty 

 are discovered within a few inches of each other. 



This animal is found in the greatest quantity at 

 Ancona, in Italy; it is found also along the shores 

 of Normandy and Poitou, in France, and upon 

 some of the coasts of Scotland. It is in general 

 considered as a very great delicacy at the tables of 

 the luxurious*. 



* Goldsmith, 



