14 THE HALL OF SHELLS. 



sounding shells,' and when in his hall the ' shell 

 of kings was heard,' it was probably such 

 scallop cups the warriors clashed. 



" Another Pecten was called the pilgrim's 

 shell, and was used by the early Crusaders as 

 both plate and goblet. This shell was some- 

 times from four to five inches broad, and found 

 in abundance on the coast of Palestine. It 

 was also worn upon the front of the hat as 

 a badge of knighthood by those who had 

 performed the sacred pilgrimages or visited a 

 shrine of St. James. This latter gave it the 

 additional name of St. James's shell, its proper 

 name being Pecten Jacoboeus. 



"The name Peeten means comb, and has 

 been given these shells because of the appear- 

 ance of ribs ornamenting the surface of many 

 varieties. 



" But beautiful as are these shells, the mol- 

 lusks living in such houses as these are even 

 more beautiful and instructive. 



" By quick opening and shutting of its 

 valves the little animal moves through the 

 water. When ' at home ' the pretty creature 

 lies upon one side, its two valves open far 

 enough to admit of our peering in ; there we 

 see delicate white fringes waving this way and 

 that, withdrawn and again floating over the 



