I 



140 



and of an oval form ; the exterior and the eggs are- 

 black ; it is called the devil's hedge-hog, and is 

 never eaten. 



Of the class of vermes, or worms, the order of 

 testacei are most abundant in Chili ; the sea shore 

 being covered with all kinds of shells, of which seve^ 

 ral hills are formed, from whence the inhabitants col- 

 lect great quantities for lime. I have no doubt that 

 among them might be discovered not only some of 

 a new species, but of a new genus ; but as the limits 

 of my work will not permit me to go into a full de- 

 scription of them, I shall confine myself to those 

 kinds that are the most esteemed and made use of 

 by the inhabitants. 



Oysters are found in itiany places on the coast ; 

 there are several varieties, but the largest and best 

 ^ are taken near Coquimbo. Escallops are found in 

 the same places with the oyster, not only those with 

 convex, but those with flat shells. 



The principal species of the muscle are the com- 

 mon, the pearly muscle (mytilus margaritifer) the 

 large and small Magellanic muscle, the chorus, and 

 the black muscle. The large Magellanic muscle is 

 six inches long and three broad, the shell is covered 

 on the outside with a brownish skin, beneath which 

 it is of a beautiful sky blue, crossed transversely with 

 purple stripes, and within is of a rich mother of pearl 

 €olour striped with red. The little Magellanic 

 muscle is nearly of the same colour, but of rather a 

 more oval form. Both these kinds commonly con- 

 tain some small pearls, of little lustre ; those, on the 



