254 On the Economical Uses of some species of Testacea. 



XXIII. Cardium edule. (Linn.) — Edible Cockle. 



This common English shell inhabits the low sandy and muddy 

 shores of most parts of Great Britain, and is found a little above low 

 water mark. The specimens lie singly, about a foot deep in the 

 sand, and like the Mya arenaria of this country, their locality is 

 known by a dimple or depression, of about half an inch in diameter. 

 They are dug out. They are likewise found on some of the French 

 coasts, and in both countries are used for the table ; but their con- 

 sumption is entirely confined to the more humble and poorer classes. 

 In the sixth century they were however of much more importance, 

 and eaten by all. In general they are prepared by simply boiling 

 them, after having been kept a ievj days in fresh water to get quit of 

 the sand they contain. 



In the island of Barry, on the coast of Inverness, Scotland, this 

 fish is at times the chief support of the inhabitants, and so plentiful 

 are they there, that in seasons of scarcity the people have subsisted 

 solely on them for months together. The popular opinion there is, 

 that they spring from small animalculae, brought down by the water 

 springs from a certain green hill in the neighborhood of the sands. 

 Buchanan, the Scottish historian, gives a somewhat similar account 

 of their origin, as being believed in his time throughout Scotland. 

 Except the occasional burning of the shell as lime, or applying it as 

 manure, it is of no value. They are in season during the spring.* 



XXIV. Helix Pomatia. (Linn.) — Edible Snail. 



Luxury perhaps attained to a greater height in ancient Rome than 

 in any other country of which we have the history. Not only was 

 there the most lavish splendor and magnificence in the houses and 

 the temples ; not only were these met with in the dress and equip- 

 ages, but the most minute attention and refinement was applied to 

 the science of cookery and to the table. The present shell is an 

 instance of this : not content with eating animals as they were by 

 nature, the greatest ingenuity was manifested in feeding and fatten- 

 ing them, and while Rome was mastering or holding in subjection 



* Sinclair's Statistical Hist, of Scotland, Vol. xiii. p. 336. Holinshed's Chron- 

 icles, Vol. i. p. 378. 



