THE MARINE AQUARIUM. 131 



The common mussel (Mylilus borcalis) I have not been 

 able to make live ; but it is a curious animal, and very 

 common on Long Island coast, where it is used as ma- 

 nure. This creature fastens itself to a mass of small stones, 

 and sometimes to rocks, by means of numerous glutinous 

 cor j s — in this way preventing its being washed about at 

 the mercy of the waves, or endangered by becoming a 

 prey to fish, one of which, the common starfish, is very 

 fond of it. 



Clams ( Venus) will not succeed in confinement. Neither 

 will the pretty little scallop (Peckn amccnlric.us) . This lit- 

 tle creature is extremely beautiful whilst it lives, as, be- 

 sides the beautiful fringed mantle that hangs from the 

 iuterior of each shell, it is provided with a row of 

 bright metallic blue spots, which have been called eyes, 

 and arc arranged just near to the edge of each shell. 

 These scallops are extremely lively animals when young, 

 skipping a considerable distance by suddenly opening and 

 closing their shells, and making a sharp, snapping noise 

 when so doing. They are eaten by fish ; and the broad 

 muscular portion, being boiled and put into vinegar, is, 

 bv many persons, considered a great delicacy. 



