M Y T 
M Y R 
pcntaspermous. There are two species, 
herbs ot' the Cape. 
MYRTLE. See Myrtus. 
MYRTUS, the myrtle; a genus of the 
monogynia order, in the icosandria class of 
plants ; and in the natural method ranking 
under the 1 9th order, hesperidax 'J'he calyx 
is quinqueiid, superior ; there are five petals ; 
the berry is dispermous or trispermous. 
There are 36 species, of which the most re- 
markable are: 
1 . The communis, or common myrtle-tree, 
of which the most material varieties are : 
broad-leaved Roman myrtle, with oval, shin- 
ing, green leaves, an inch and a half long, 
and one broad ; and which is remarkably 
iloriferous. Gold-striped broad-leaved Ro- 
man myrtle. Broad-leaved Dutch myrtle, 
with spear-shaped, sharp-pointed, dark-green 
leaves, an inch long, and about three quar- 
ters of one broad. Double-flowered Dutch 
myrtle. Broad-leaved Jew’s myrtle, having 
the leaves placed by threes at each joint ; by 
which particular circumstance this species is 
in universal estimation among the Jews in 
their religious ceremonies, particularly in 
decorating their tabernacles ; and tor which 
purpose many gardeners about London cul- 
tivate this variety with particular care to sell 
to the above people : for the true sort, having 
the leaves exactly by threes, is very scarce, 
and is a curiosity ; but by care in its propa- 
gation, taking only the perfectly ternate- 
leaved shoots for cuttings, it may be increas- 
ed fast enough ; and is worth the attention 
of the curious, and particularly those who 
raise myrtles for the London markets. Orange- 
leaved Spanish myrtle, with oval spear-shaped 
leaves, an inch and a half long or more, and 
one broad, in clusters round the branches, and 
resembling the shape and colour of orange- 
tree leaves. Gold-striped-leaved orange 
myrtle. Common upright Italian myrtle, 
■with its branches and leaves growing more 
erect, the leaves oval, lanceolate-shaped, 
acute-pointed, and near an nc h long and 
half one broad. Silver-striped upright Italian 
myrtle. White-berried upright Italian myr- 
tle. Portugal acute-leaved myrtle, with 
spear-shaped, oval, acute-pointed leaves, 
about an inch long, Box-leaved myrtle, with 
weak branches, and ■mall, oval, obtuse, lucid- 
green, closely -placed leaves. Striped box- 
leaved myrtle. Rosemary-leaved myrtle. 
Silver - striped rosemary - leaved myrtle. 
Thyme-leaved myrtle, with very small close- 
ly-placed leaves." Nutmeg-myrtle, with 
erect branches and leaves ; the leaves oval, 
acute-pointed, and finely scented like a nut- 
meg. Broad-leaved nutmeg-myrtle. Silver- 
striped-leaved ditto. Cristated or cocks- 
comb myrtle, frequently called bird’s-nest 
mvrtle. 'These are all beautiful evergreen 
shrubs, of exceeding fragrance, exotics origi- 
nally of the southern parts of Europe, and 
of Asia and Africa, and consequently in 
this country require a shelter ot a greenhouse 
In winter. 
2. 'The pimenta, pimento, Jamaica pep- 
per, or allspice tree, grows about 30 feet 
in height and two in circumference ; the 
branches near the top are much divided and 
thickly beset with leaves, which by their con- 
tinual" verdure always give the tree a beauti- 
ful appearance; tile bark is very smooth 
externally, and of a grey colour; the leaves 
vary in shape and in sflze, but are commonly 
Yol. II. 
about four inches long, veined, pointed, el- 
liptical, and of a deep shining green colour ; 
the flowers are produced in bunches or pa- 
nicles, and stand upon subdividing or tricito- 
tomous stalks, which usually terminate the 
branches ; the calyx is cut into four roundish 
segments; the petals are also four, white, 
small, reflex, oval, and placed opposite to 
each other between the segments of the ca- 
lyx; the filaments are numerous, longer than 
the petals, spreading, of a greenish-white 
colour, and rise from the calyx and upper 
part of the germen ; the antherae are round- 
ish, and of a pale yellow colour ; the style 
is smooth, simple, and erect ; the stigma is 
obtuse ; the germen becomes a round succu- 
lent berry, containing two kidney-shaped 
flatfish seeds. This tree is a native of New 
Spain and the West India islands. In Ja- 
maica it grows very plentifully ; and in June, 
July, and August, puts forth its flowers, 
which, with every part of the tree, breathe an 
aromatic fragrance. The berries when ripe 
are ot a dark purple colour, and full of a 
sweet pulp, which the birds devour greedily. 
The pimento is a most beautiful odoriferous 
evergreen, and exhibits a line variety in the 
stove at all seasons. 
MYTILUS, the mussel, a genus of ani- 
mals belonging to the order of vermes tes- 
tacei. The animal is an ascidia ; the shell 
bivalve, often affixed to some substance by a 
beard ; the hinge without a tooth, marked 
by a longitudinal hollow line. Of these ani- 
mals there are a great many species, some 
of them inhabiting the seas, others the rivers 
and ponds. Several of them are remarkable 
for the beauty-of their internal shell, and for 
the pearls which are sometimes found in 
them. 
1. The edulis, or edible mqssel, has a 
strong shell, slightly incurvated on one side, 
and augulated on the other. The end near 
the hinge is pointed, the other rounded. 
When the epidermis is taken oft it is of a 
deep-blue colour. It is found in immense 
beds, both in deep water and above low-wa- 
ter mark. This species inhabits the Euro- 
pean and Indian seas. Between the tropics 
it is largest, and smaller within the polar cir- 
cle. It is said to be hurtful if too often eaten, 
or in too great quantities. 
2. The anatinus, or duck mussel, has a 
shell more oblong and less convex than the 
last ; is very brittle and semitransparent ; the 
space round the hinges like the last; the 
length about live inches, breadth two. It is 
found in Europe in fresh waters. Both it 
and the cygneus are devoured by swans and 
ducks, whence -their names : crows also feed 
on these mussels, as well as on different other 
shell-fish; and it is diverting to observe, that 
when the- shell is too hard for their bills they' 
fly with it to a great height, drop the shell on 
a rock, and pick out the meat when the shell 
is fractured by the fall. 
3. The violacea, or violet mussel, has the 
shell longitudinally furrowed, the rim very 
obtuse, somewhat formed like the mytilus 
edulis, but considerably larger and more flat- 
tened, of a beautiful violet-colour. Inhabits 
the southern ocean. . 
4. The- margarite ferns produces the true 
mother-of-pearl, and frequently the most va- 
luable pearls: the outside sometimes sea- 
green, or chesnut, or bloom-colour with white 
I i 
MYT 219 
rays ; when the outer coat is removed it has 
the same lustre as the inside: the younger' 
shells have ears as long as the shell, and re- 
semble scallops. 
There are between 50 and 60 other species. 
Mussels not only open and shut their shells 
at pleasure, but they have also a progressive 
motion ; they can "fasten themselves where 
they please ; they respire water like the 
fishes ; and some even flutter about on its 
surface so as to inhale air. If they lie in 
shallow places a small circular motion is seen 
above the heel of the shell, and a few mo- 
ments after they cast out the water by one 
single stroke at the other end of the shell. 
The mouth is situated near the sharp angle of 
the animal ; and is furnished with four float- 
ing fringes in the shape of mustachios, which 
may perhaps answer the purpose of lips. 
The barbs which surround the edge of al- 
most half the mussel, are a wonderful web of 
hollow fibres which serve as fins or organs of 
respiration, as vessels for the circulation of 
the fluids; and probably, as some philoso- 
phers suppose,' as wedges for opening their 
shells ; for we observe two large muscles or 
tendons for the purpose of shutting them ; 
but we in vain look for their antagonists; or 
those which are destined to open them. 
When the mussel wishes to open itself, it re- 
laxes the two muscles or tendons, and swells 
the fringes, which act as wedges, and separate 
the shells. The animal shuts up itself in the 
contraction of two thick fibrous, muscles, 
whic%are fixed internally to each end of the 
shells ; and these shells are lined all round 
with a membrane or epidermis, which unites 
them so closely together when they are soak- 
ed in water, that not the smallest drop caa 
escape from the mussel. When mussels 
choose to walk they often contrive to raise 
themselves on the sharp edge of their shells, 
and put forth a fleshy substance susceptible 
of extension, which serves them as a leg to 
drag themselves along, in a kind of groove 
or furrow which they form in the sand or 
mud, and which supports the shell on both 
sides. In ponds these furrows are very ob- 
servable. From the same member or leg 
hang the threads by which the animals fasten 
themselves to rocks, or to one another. 
According to the observations. of M.Mery, 
of the Paris academy, and the subsequent 
experiments of other naturalists, mussels -are 
all androgynous ; and, from a peculiar gene- 
rative organization, each individual is of itself 
capable of propagating its species, and annu- 
ally does it without the intercourse of any 
other. This is altogether singular, and differ- 
ent from what takes place in snails, earth- 
worms, and other androgenous or herma- 
i phroditical animals. In the spring, mussels 
I lay their eggs; there being none found in 
| them but in winter. The minute eggs,, or 
| embryos, are by the parent placed in due 
| order, and in a very close arrangement, on 
j the outside of the shell; where, by means of 
| a gluey matter, they adhere very fast, and 
! continually increase in size and strength, till 
becoming perfect mussels, they fall off and 
shift for themselves, leaving the holes where 
they were placed behind them. This’ abun- 
dance the mussel-shells very plainly show', 
when examined by the microscope, and 
sometimes the number is 200fl or 3000 on one 
shell ; but it is not certain that these have 
been all fixed there by the mussel within ; 
. 
