104 EDIBLE BRITISH MOLLUSKS. 



were prepared on the coast at Arcachon and Samt- 

 Vaast-la-Hogue, and in 1861, the steward of the 'Arago' 

 steamer brought over about two hundred clamSj and also 

 some American oysters, which were deposited in these 

 beds under the superintendence of M. Coste.* In 

 1863, another supply of live clams was brought over ; 

 but Dr. Paul Fischer stated in 1865, that though the 

 mollusks were perfectly healthy, they did not seem to 

 have spawned, as no young specimens could be found. 

 This Venus mercenaria is a very thick shell ; covered 

 with a dark-brown epidermis, much resembling our Cy- 

 prina Islandica, but it is more triangular in form. 



The deep valves of Pecten ma.vimns are used by 

 fishermen as lamps for their huts, and, according to 

 Puller, they were also made use of by the pilgrims in 

 Palestine, as cups and dishes, but I believe that the real 

 pilgrim scallop is Pecten Jacobceus, which is found in the 

 Mediterranean, and is smaller, of a very bright colour, 

 dark-orange and reddish-brown, more convex, the ribs 

 more defined and angular. The scallop was also the 

 badge of the pilgrim, and the poet Bowles says : — 



" He clad him in his pilgrim weeds, 

 With trusty staff in hand 

 And scallop shell, and took liis way, 

 A wanderer through the laud." 



Again, in ' Marmion,' we read : — 



" The summoned Palmer came in place, 

 His sable cowl o'erhung his face ; 

 In his black mantle was he clad, 

 With Peter's keys in cloth of red 



On his broad shoulders wrought ; 

 The ' scallop shell' his cap did deck ; 



* ' "Utilization of Minute Life,' by Dr. T. L. Phipson, pp. 176, 177. 



