26 



HEY : YORKSHIRE MARINE SHELLS. 



almost perpendicular and deeply cave-pierced cliffs of Flamborough 

 Head. The former style of coast-line (well exemplified just north 

 of Filey Brig) is very unpropitious to life, owing doubtless to the 

 fierce and sweeping dash of the waves. A dwarf species of 

 periwinkle and a rough-ribbed limpet have it pretty well to themselves. 



The caves of Flamborough Head, too, much as they will delight 

 the lover of nature with the dazzle of their white walls, the dimness of 

 their long recesses, and the unearthly flash of their crystal water, as 

 each wave rises and sinks like the very pulse of the sea, will 

 certainly disappoint the zoologist who has seen or read of the 

 wonderful riches of the caves of the Channel Islands. For some 

 reason, they are almost devoid of life, and, indeed, the spotless 

 appearance of their floors would quite justify a superstition that they 

 are daily swept and scoured by the mermaids. 



Dredging near shore does not produce much which cannot be 

 obtained equally well after rough weather on the beach ; one must 

 go far to sea — further than the ordinary collector will care to venture 

 (or the ordinary pocket afford!) — to obtain the rare shells which, on 

 Bean's authority, are so often labelled 'Scarborough.' In those 

 spots which look pleasant for a little quiet dredging (such as 

 Bridlington Bay) there is no depth of water. Some of the deepwater 

 shells may, however, be obtained from the fishing boats, and it is 

 almost always worth while to examine both the lines and the bottom 

 of the boats. 



Before concluding these introductory remarks, I may add that 

 any person wishing to form a collection of Yorkshire Marine Shells 

 should unquestionably select Redcar as his headquarters, for here 

 occurs the greatest variety of ground, and a corresponding richness 

 of fauna. The sandy beach of Coatham, the mudflats of the Tees, 

 the long reefs of Lias in front of Redcar, are all rich in marine life, 

 while, after a rough sea, the shore is often one vast collection of 

 marine spoils. 



PHOLADID^.. 



Xylophaga dorsalis Turton. 



Not, I believe, indigenous to the Yorkshire coast, but it 

 has occurred in drift-wood, picked up by a friend of mine near 

 Saltburn. 



Pholas Candida L. * 



Fairly abundant in the softer parts of the upper sandstone 

 series, which occur as flat scars near low-water mark on the 

 North shore at Scarborough, but the specimens are only small. I 

 have found larger valves (dead) washed ashore at Bridlington 

 Quay. 



Naturalist, 



