294 



POPULAR CONCHOLOGY. 



opening plain and sessile; adductor muscles unequal; 

 foot narrow, ligulate ; furnished with a byssal groove.* 

 — Many species ; also fossil. 



The Mytilus or Mussel is found in most parts of the 

 world, and is abundant on rocky coasts, where it is at- 

 tached by its byssus, so as to be covered by water at high 

 tide ; an instance is known of a lobster having been found 

 covered with them; when the shell of the common 

 English species, the Mytilus edulis, is freed from its 

 epidermis and polished, it is of a beautiful deep purple 

 colour. The animal is much sought after as an article of 

 food, and, although not equal to the oyster, makes a 

 palatable dish ; but care is necessary, as it is often un- 

 wholesome, and sometimes even fatal. They are used 

 extensively as a bait by fishermen, and Mr. Forbes relates 

 that in one district alone, about the Frith of Forth, it is 

 calculated that thirty or forty millions of mussels are used 

 as bait in one year. The beds are private property, and 

 are called <( mussel gardens." 



" A mussel sent from Australia to Mr. Gray lived 498 

 days after it was taken out of the water, and in the 

 interim had been only twice for a few hours in water to 

 see if it were alive." f Small seed pearls are sometimes 

 found in the mussel, and are sold by those who procure 

 them, for about 2s. per ounce, but it seems not to be 

 exactly ascertained for what they are used. 



Modiola. Lam. — Shell rather trans- 

 verse, equivalve, inequilateral ; bosses pro- 

 minent, and slightly removed from the end, 

 anterior side very short; valves gaping a 

 little ; no teeth ; ligament almost internal ; 

 an epidermis, which is usually filamentous. 



* Forbes s British Moll. 



t Woodward. 



