1 48 Of Shells. P ar t I 
A BLOBLIFD-SHELL, which feemeth to be a kind of 
Mufcle. I find it no where. Here are feveral fmgle fhells 
of this fort, but not one pair ; which makes me fomewhat 
doubtful what to make of them. Moil of them have 
about an inch of expanfion. The Concave in the infide, 
is triangular, with fmall ftrait tranfvers Wrinkles, one 
Angle obtufe, two acute. From the two longer fides of 
the triangle, the Margin is fpread out, and on one fide as it 
were doubled backward. It hath alfo one, fometimes two 
Joynts, very deep, and for fo fmall a fhell, remarkably 
ftrong. 
The Natives of Brafde ufe Mufcle-Jhells for Spoons and 
(*) ^ 1 s aeus ' Knives, [a) The ajhes of Mufcle-Jhells, faith Wormius, are of 
geftis in ^ Cauftickcnature. As if it were peculiar to this fhell. Whereas 
Brafiiia. tne fadls of all forts of Shell-Fijh, being burnt, obtain the 
like. Moft of them, being fo order d, and powder d, make 
excellent good Dentifrices. 
Hitherto go the Double Shells, or with two Valves. 
There remain fome which are made up of feveral fhelly 
pieces conjoyn d to make one Concave-fhell : as 
The Conick CENTRE-SHELL. Balanus major. De- 
fcribed by Rondeletius, and others. It is in fhape fomewhat 
like a T&lipjthc feveral fhelly Plates which compofe it, being 
pointed at the top, and Handing together , as fo many 
leaves. They always grow fixed to fome other Body. 
When boyl'd, they are a delicate fort of Meat. 
The SPUNG-CENTRE-SHELL. Balanus Spongiarum. So 
I name it. Commonly, but fomewhat abfurdly, called Lapis 
Spongix. For being well obferved, they appear to be little 
Centre-Shells, which probably never grow very big 5 and 
wherein the leaves feem to be a little more feparate, than in 
the former Species. They look juft like fmall petrifi'd Buds 
of Trees. 
A fmall Centre-Shell, growing upon a Branch of Coral. 
The FLAT CENTRE-SHELL. Balanus comprejfa. Com- 
monly called the BARNACLE-SHELL 3 and CONCHA 
(TOHedtor ANATIFERA. Becaufe fuppofed to be the Egg of the 
Boethius Barnacle. And by fome (b) it is confidently deliver d,that in 
GtiLx%d tne Or cades there are certain Worms grow in Hollow-Trees, 
our country- which by degrees obtain the Head, Feet, Wings and all the 
man Pr.Tur- f eat [ lcrs Q f a Water-Fowl, which srows to the bignefs of a 
Goofe. 
