INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 23 



those which occur in Portugal and the south 

 of France."* 



Of the uses and benefits derived by man from 

 shells and their inhabitants, a hasty mention 

 may be made. First, as to their inhabitants; 

 amongst civilised nations many species are 

 highly prized as articles of food, such as the 

 oyster, mussel, &c. ; and among savage nations, 

 particularly those inhabiting the coasts of 

 Western Africa and New Holland, a great 

 part of their food is derived from Mollusca of 

 various kinds. Their principal use, however, in 

 this respect appears to be, the serving as food 

 for the classes of animals more immediately 

 above them in the scale of organization, such 

 as the amphibious mammalia, sea-birds, and 

 fish, which in a great measure live upon them, 

 destroying such vast quantities, that it is their 

 extraordinary fecundity alone which prevents 

 them from being totally annihilated. A silky 

 thread is produced by the Pinna, which may be 

 spun, and is occasionally made into gloves, &c, 

 but more as a curiosity than for any useful 



* Philosophical Trans., 1833. 

 C 4 



