THE YOUNG 



NATURALIST. 



167 



Some of the are exceedingly beautiful, and, 

 according to Mr. Sowerby, there are no less 

 than i6 British species. The Top is a very 

 useful member of an aquarium, for having 

 a tongue of curious structure, he keeps the 

 glass sides clean. 



The next I would mention is the Common 

 Periwinkle {Littorvia) . The " Winkle " is 

 the shell-fish in which the operculum, the 

 horny plate or door, which Mr. Peri Winkle 

 politely closes behind him when he " turns 

 in," is most noticeable. 



The Cockle [Cardiwm edule), is too well 

 known to need description. It is a capital 

 digger, and with its notched edges it can 

 burrow deep into the sand. 



The Cutler or Razor Fish is another of 

 the "delving" class. It never creeps, but 

 penetrates perpendicularly into the sand, 

 and how nicely is its long and slender shell 

 formed for the purpose ! 



I would yet mention another burrower. 

 The Fholas dactylus is really a most won- 

 derful animal. It is able with a small 

 fleshy instrument, resembling a tongue, to 

 perforate the hardest stones or timber ; 

 indeed nothing can offer any hindrance to 

 the Pholas save iron, and having effected an 

 entrance, it then enjoys a life of security 

 and ease, increasing its habitation as it 

 increases in size. '1 he I holades are, indeed, 

 a very interesting race. 



The Common Mussel {Mytilus edulis), is 

 a bivalve. Not only is it useful for food, 

 but also for fish bait, and we are told that 

 " the total consumption of mussels for bait 

 annually in Newhaven alone may be 

 reckoned at 4,320,000." The mussel, when 

 young, spins a cable — or byssus, as it is 

 scientifically called— to a rock, where it 

 anchors itself. There are frequently a 

 hundred and fifty of these little cables 

 employed in mooring a mussel, each cord 

 being scarcely two inches in length. 



The British Scallops [Pecten) are very 

 beautiful, and also very plentiful. Mr. 



Sowerby mentions nine characteristic 

 species. The Common Scallop [Pecten 

 Jacobcea) gets the title Jacohaa (Lat. 

 Jacobus), from the shrine of St. James, at 

 Compostella. We are told that many pil- 

 grims, tramping to this spot, and having 

 paid their devotions to the saint, they bore 

 home a scallop-shell with them as a 

 memento of their visit. When the Scallop 

 is deserted by the tide, it jerks itself for- 

 ward in a curious manner by opening and 

 shutting its shell. 



Of the Oyster [Ostrea),l need say nothing, 

 it is^nown too well to all. 



Of Cowries, which are so plentiful abroad, 

 we have ,but one variety, which is very 

 common in Scotland. 



The Chiton is the last shell-bearing 

 mollusc I would at this time mention. 

 There are several varieties, but our native 

 species are not very large. The Chiton is 

 the only multi valve we have. 



Shells are in themselves of little impor- 

 tance, unless they are classified and named. 

 Here it is that the interest begins. We 

 have few shells, but there is no part of our 

 coast altogether barren, and a local col- 

 lection, classified and arranged, each speci- 

 men being popularly and scientifically 

 named, and a slip denoting the locality 

 where obtained, will give a peculiar interest 

 to the collector. 



I have also, bear in mind, referred only to 

 coast shells, making no mention of our land 

 or fresh water molluses, which are also 

 highly interesting.* 



I would again quote from a popular 

 author, who says :—" Even among the few 

 score of species which may exist in our 

 neighbourhood, he (the collector), will be 

 sure to find many an attractive subject for 

 examination; and, indeed, there are few 

 localities in which he may not hope to have 

 his diligence rewarded by some new or in- 

 teresting observation of habit or economy." 

 ♦ All the Britislx species ■were described in Vol I. — Eds, 



