On the Economical Uses of some species of Testacea. 251 



XVIII. Chiton fasciatus? (Linn.) — Beef Shell. 



Th& only instance, we believe, of any species of this genus being 

 used, is the present, at the island of Barbadoes, where they are 

 cooked for the table. We are told that the fish is of a pale red 

 color, (whence its provincial name,) and that 'it is very firm eating, 

 short and well tasted." It is about one and a half inches in length, 

 and three quarters of an inch in breadth. It appears to be abun- 

 dant, and living on the rocks, is easily obtained. The shell is use- 

 less.* 



XIX. MuREx DESPECTUS. (Linn.) — Rock Whelk. 



This, the largest of the British univalves, is not uncommon on 

 most of the coasts of Great Britain. It is occasionally drawn up 

 with oysters, but we have most frequently obtained it from the 

 ground lines of the fishermen, to the baits of which it adheres. In 

 common with the rest of the genus, it is carnivorous. It is occasion- 

 ally eaten, but being coarse food, is more generally used as bait.f 



XX. SoLEN SiLiQUA. (Linn.) — Razor Shell. 



This shell is found in abundance on many of the sandy shores of 

 England, especially on the northern and western coasts, and on those 

 of Scotland and Ireland. The ancients esteemed them, when cook- 

 ed, as a delicious food, and Dr. Lister informs us that he thought it 

 nearly as rich and palatable as the lobster. In England and Scot- 

 land, in the present day, it is more used as bait than for the table, 

 but in Ireland it is still much eaten during Lent. It is in season 

 during the spring, and the shell is of no value. It is eaten likewise 

 by the inhabitants of the Crimea, bordering on the Black Sea, on the 

 shores of which it is plentifully found. f 



XXI. The OPERCULUM of a species of shell is understood to have 

 been used in making the sacred perfume of the Jews, the substance 

 called in the Hebrew specheleth, and which in the English version is 



* Hughes' Natural Hist, of Barbadoes, p. 275. 

 t Donovan's British Shells, plate 31. 



t lb. plate 46. Histoire physique, morale, civile et politique de la Russia mo- 

 derns par M. Le Clerc, Vol. iv. p. 291. 



