405 AN ACCOUNT OF THE 



from the reft, and fliaped like a bag. The mouth is 

 near the hinge of the fhell, enveloped in a veil, and 

 has a double Hap or lip on each iide ; from thence we 

 obferve the throat (ceiophagus) defcending like a 

 thread to the ftomach. Clofe to the mouth there is 

 rownith tongue, half an inch in length, with 

 an cbtule point; on the concave iide of this defcends 

 a furrow, which the animal opens and fhuts, and pro- 

 bably ufes to convey food to its mouth*. Near its 

 middle are two bluifh fpots, which feem to be the 

 eyes. In a pretty deep hole near the bale of the 

 tongue, lies the beard (byjfus), fattened r3y two flefhy 

 roots, and confining of almoft one hundred fibres, 

 each an inch long, of a dark green colour, with a 

 metallic luftre; they are undivided, parallel, and flat- 

 tened. In general the byjfus is more than three quarters 

 of an inch, without the cleft (rima)\ but if the ani- 

 mal is dilhirbed, it contracts it considerably. The 

 top of each of thefe threads terminates in a circular 

 gland or head, like the Jiygrna of many plants. With 

 this byjfus they fatten themfelves to rocks, corals, and 

 other l'olid bodies; by it the young pearl filli cling to 

 the old ones, and with it the animal procures its food, 

 by extending and contracting it at pleafurc. Small 

 fhell filh, on which they partly live, are often found 

 clinging to the former. The ftomach lies clofe to the 

 root of the beard, and has, on its lower fide, a pro- 

 tracted obtufe point. Above the ftomach are two 

 iinall red bodies, like lungs; and from the ftomach 

 goes a long channel or gut, which takes a circuit 



* Tne-depth at which the pearl fifh generally is to be found, 

 I me from paying aio tition to the locomotive power, 



which I have not the leaft doubt it poffefles, u/ing for this pirrpofe 

 its tongue. This conj ' accurate obfer- 



made on mufdes by l l'Mur, in which he 



.A that this bcxi them as a leg or arm, to .move from 



oh place to another. Though the divers ate very ignorant with 

 regard to the ceconomy of the pearl fifh, this changing of habita- 

 nt . :. ti Ion d by them. They aliedge. that it 

 ;.».. ;• e n difturl ■ an -etifemy or in fearch of food. 

 In the former < tl •. I it commonly defcends from the mmmit 

 of the bank to its d< 



round 



