100 



Beautiful Shells. 



inside is of a glossy whiteness, and it is frequently 

 used as a basin for garden fountains, or the reception 

 of rills op little jets of water, which sparkle in its 

 stainless hollow. In the church of St. Salpice, at 

 Paris, is a shell of this immense Clam, the valves of 

 which are used as receptacles for holy water; it 

 was presented to Francis the First by the republic 

 of Venice. Fancy the clapping to of such a pair of 

 valves when the animal closes its shell in alarm, and 



the strength of the cable required to moor it to the 

 rocks or coral reef. The spotted species here 

 figured has a solid and heavy shell, very elegantly 

 shaped, and beautifully marked, as will be seen; 

 the greatly reduced size of the figure prevents any- 

 thing like justice being done to the original. 



The above is a figure of the Heart Isocardea 



