FAMILY PECTINIDZ — PECTEN. 173 
This is one of the most common shells on the coast of New-York, where it is known under 
the popular name of Scollop, or Scallop-shell. It abounds on shallow sandy bottoms, and is 
taken in great quantities for food, the broad and stout muscular portion being the only part of the 
animal used. This is boiled and put in vinegar, and considered by many as a great delicacy. 
The shells, which vary very much in the beauty and delicacy of their coloring, are used for orna- 
mental purposes, such as card-racks, pin-cushions, etc. Ona clear calm day, these animals 
may be seen skipping along to considerable distances on the surface of the water: this move- 
ment is accompanied by sharp and quickly repeated sounds, occasioned by the rapid opening 
and shutting of the valves. I have never noticed these movements in adults. They are 
preyed upon by numerous fishes. 
PEcTEN ISLANDICUS. 
PLATE XI. FIG. 206. 
Ostrea islandica. MUuuuER, Zool. Dan. prodr. No. 2990. 
Pecten pealii. Conrap, Amer. Marine Conchology, p. 12, pl. 2, fig. 2. 
Ize islandicus. Say, Amer. Conchology, plate 56, fig. 1. 
P. id. Goutp, Invertebrata of Massachusetts, p, 133, fig. 89. 
Description. Shell occasionally very large, sub-rounded ; the valves nearly equal. Sur- 
face covered with numerous scaly radiating lines, alternately smaller. Ears unequal, with 
radiating ribs. Five to six minute teeth in the angle beneath the emarginate ear. Margin 
jagged by the produced elevated radiating lines ; intervals between these lines reticulated. 
Color. Reddish or orange, with darker concentric bands and pale broad radiations. Ears 
with dark red concentric lines. 
Length, 2°0-3°0. Width, 1°9 - 3:0. 
I am not aware that this shell has yet been found on our coast, but it has been obtained 
from the stomachs of fishes. The banks of Newfoundland appear to be its proper locality 
on the American coast, and it extends very far north. Conrad observed it on the coast of 
Maine. 
PEcTEN MAGELLANICUS. 
PLATE XI. FIG. 207. a. 3. 
Ostrea magellanica, GMELIN, p. 3317. 
Pecten id. Conran, Amer. Marine Conchology, pl. 1, fig. 1. 
P, id. Russe, Essex Jour. Nat. Hist. Vol. 1, p, 62. 
P. id. Goutp, Invertebrata of Mass. p. 132, 
Description. Shell large, orbicular, moderately solid, much compressed; the upper valve 
more convex, the lower nearly flat. Ears subequal; on the upper valve equal: valves gaping 
