Scallop Shells. 103 



Land, as the scene of our Saviour's life and death 

 was called. Sir Walter Baleigh, in his poem called 

 "The Pilgrimage/' thus enumerates the different 

 articles considered necessary for a Palmer, as these 

 pilgrims were termed : — 



" Give me my scallop shell of quiet, 

 My staff of faith to lean upon, 

 My scrip of joy (immortal diet), 



My bottle of salvation, 

 My gown of glory, hope's true gage, 

 And thus I'll make my pilgrimage." 



This mollusk, it may be noticed, like many other 

 bivalves, has a flat and a concave or hollow shell. 

 In early times, when plates and drinking vessels 

 were not so plentiful as they are now, one of these 

 served the former purpose, and the other the latter. 

 Thus, in speaking of a feast, a Gaelic or Scottish 

 bard has said — 



" The joy of the shell went round." 



Sometimes the species termed Pecten opercularis was 

 used as the pilgrim's badge : the specific name comes 

 most likely from the Latin operculum, whose meaning 

 has been explained. 



This, too, is a common British shell, as is also 

 the little speckled Scallop (P. varia), which may be 



