Indirect and Direct Benefits. 43 



certainly inferior to the genuine " Pyefleet," yet they are no 

 despicable dainties. 



The oyster is a bivalve shell, and there are many others of 

 this kind which are edible. Indeed, none of them, so far as 

 we know, are positively hurtful ; though some, as the ^pon- 

 dyli, are harsh and disagreeable, others occasionally act as 

 poison at particular seasons or to peculiar constitutions, and 

 many are so small or so rare as never to have been used. The 

 Pecten maximus, for example, is a much esteemed species; 

 and the clam (Pecten opercularis) is very commonly eaten in 

 Scotland. The Anomia undulata, at Bourdeaux, is considered 

 a delicacy ; while, on some parts of the shores of the Mediter- 

 ranean, the rocks are broken with large hammers, in order 

 to procure the Pholas dactylus, which abounds there, and is 

 admired even at the tables of the luxurious. The razor-fish 

 (ASolen sUiqua), common on our sandy shores, is an article of 

 food in many places ; and when they go to its capture, the Irish 

 are said to have a song appropriate to the occasion, whence we 

 may infer that it is a favourite with them. On a dish made of the 

 animal of the Mya truncata, and named smurslin, the natives of 

 Orkney and Zetland delight to sup ; and you know that, from 

 many parts of the coast of merry England, great numbers of 

 cockles (Cardium edible) {Jig, 6, a) are gathered, particularly 

 in spring; and, in autumn, an equal number of muscles (My- 

 tilus edulis) (b), which are eaten roasted or pickled, or by 

 entering into the composition of sauces, add to the gout of more 

 substantial viands. 



This catalogue, were it necessary, might easily be extended ; 

 but it may be sufficient, in addition, to remark that almost 

 every shore has some species peculiar to it, or more plentiful 

 than elsewhere, which the natives make subservient to the table. 

 Thus, in India, the favourite food bacassan is prepared from 



