124 POPULAR CONCHOLOGY. 



muscles, by which means it moves rapidly 

 through the water ; and it requires some agility 

 to catch the shell, as it flutters amongst the 

 corals where it dwells. Aristotle mentions 

 their power of leaping; and this observation 

 has since been confirmed. A basket full of the 

 common Pecten placed at the edge of the water 

 has been speedily emptied, by the individuals 

 springing from their confinement to their native 

 element. Some of the species are stout and 

 heavy, others thin and transparent, and many 

 are ornamented with beautiful colours. 



The Pecten is found almost every where ; on 

 our south coasts it is abundant, and much used 

 as an article of food. In some countries the 

 shells of the Pecten maximus are used as plates 

 by the poor ; in Paris the restaurateurs employ 

 them for the same purpose, when serving up a 

 certain preparation of mushrooms ; and in Eng- 

 land they are employed in cooking scalloped 

 oysters, and the shell is consequently known as 

 the scallop shell. The Pecten Jacobceus was 

 formerly the badge of the pilgrims who had 

 been to the Holy Land, and was worn on their 

 caps and cloaks. 



