OCEAN GAEDENS ; 



the rich, colour of their beautiful fringes, when the 

 shells are partially opened for feeding and breathing, 

 are very beautiful objects. 



The means of moyement of the common Scallop, 

 or Cockle, and other bivalves, by means of a single 

 fleshy ^^foot," have been described in speaking of 

 Molluscs in general; but the spinous Cockles, 

 Cordium aculeatum and (7. tuhercutum^ have been 

 termed the aristocracy of the Scallop tribe. The 

 valves of the largest open three-quarters of an 

 inch, and the visible portion of the spongy-looking 

 fleshy mantle is of a pellucid orange colour ; at the 

 end is protruded a double tube, thick and short, 

 enveloped in a fringe of cirrhi or tentacles. The 

 foot, which has been compared to a tongue, is 

 smooth, glossy, and semi-transparent, like scarlet 

 cornelian, and enables the creature to move about 

 with great activity in an Aquarium ; some that 

 were sent, by the E^ev. C. Kingsley, to Mr. Gosse, 

 having startled that gentleman by the noise they 

 were creating among the pebbles and other objects 

 of his tank, by their rapid movements. 



Many other kinds of shells might be mentioned 

 if space permitted, but I must content myself with 

 mentioning, enpassmit^ the polished Donax^ which, 

 when the animal displays itself, exhibiting its bright 



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