48 THE PAINTED SCALLOP. 



separated to tlie distance of about one-sixtli of an 

 inch. In this state I will describe it. The open 

 space is occupied by what seems a fleshy cushion, 

 extending from one valve to the other all round, but 

 just within their edge. It is of a delicate flesh-colour, 

 with mottlings of dark brown, making a kind of 

 irregular pattern with transverse bands ; a close 

 examination, however, shews that this substance is 

 divided into two parts ; for when the animal is quite 

 at ease, it is seen to gape, with a fissure parallel to 

 the valves, widely enough to give us a peep into 

 the internal structure. This is, in fact, the mantle^ 

 of which these two parts are the thick and glandular 

 edges. Around its circumference, on each portion, 

 just where it is in contact with the valve, there are 

 set a great number of tentacles, — delicate thread-like 

 organs, tapering to a fine point, and of a pellucid 

 white appearance ; they are capable of being protru- 

 ded and retracted at the will of the animal ; I have 

 occasionally seen some of them extended to a length 

 equal to the diameter of the shell. They are more 

 commonly contracted to about one-fourth of that 

 length, or even much less, with the points curled up ; 

 but frequently the animal protrudes them to their 

 utmost extent, bending them back above the edges 

 of the shell, and waving them slowly in every 

 direction. Sometimes one or two only are protruded, 

 and the others kept short. Along the very edge of 

 each division of the mantle, bordering the fissure, is 

 another row of similar tentacles, smaller in their 

 dimensions. But the most beautiful feature of 

 this animal is yet to be described. In the line of the 



