35 
v °h 1, p. 180. Flem. Brit. An., p. 406. It is called by- 
fishermen Cappa Longa, from its resemblance to the Razor 
sbel], the larger Solen ; which formerly bore that name, 
as Lister informs us it also did at Venice. 
, The synonyms of the British Pinnae have become so con- 
Use d, that to prevent further mistake it is judged necessary 
0 give minuter descriptions of them, than of the other 
®P e cies of shells described or referred to in this work. The 
greater Pinna, in the specimen selected, is in length on the 
of the hinge, 12 inches; but the longest in my collection 
Measures 17 inches. Length of the specimen on the wider 
13 itiches : from the point to the remotest distance 
inches; greatest girth 10§ inches: form of the outline, 
mew hat that of a scimitar or cleaver. The longitudinal 
Jr*® are well marked, but irregular, and more commonly 
'[■hoot concave spines. Colour light brown, dark near the 
pmted end, this colour passing upward in broad stripes, I 
, av e not had an opportunity of comparing this shell with 
|d a t from the Mediterranean, which bears the same name; 
nt the byssus of the latter is very different, being far more 
• i •> silky, and in colour a rich yellowish brown, whereas 
lla t of our coast is rigid and of an intense black. 
Montagu’s account of this species is as follows : “ We 
^covered a bed of these shells in Salcomb bay, in Devon- 
lre ; where they are called by the fishermen French 
'5*scles, or scallops. They lie on a gravelly bottom covered 
mud and long sea-weeds; and arc only to lie got at 
Jj? r dcular limes, when the sea recedes farther than usual, 
m le y stand upright, with the large end about an inch above 
^ e surface ; the lower end fixed by a very large strong 
r ^ s sns, so firmly attached to the gravel, that much force is 
j fi u ived to draw them up; and most commonly the byssus 
... le *t behind. This beard is composed of numerous, fine, 
■ a like fibres, of a dark purplish brown, two or three inches 
length. The larger end of the shell is naturally a little 
j? e °j and cannot be closed bv art, but the animal is capable 
it, the beaks of the valves rarely cover each 
P r °babl 
exactly. The bank on which these shells are found. 
b. 
ar e 
y increases, so that the water leaves a greater part 
-> at every spring tide, than formerly.” This species is 
is*f re P° rt ed as an inhabitant of Falmouth harbour; but it 
°uih 1 iu the greatest abundance, at the distance of from 
ty," 30 to six or eight leagues south of the Deadman point; 
th le , re . llle y stud the bottom iu multitudes, with only two or 
j s ree Inches of the pointed end inserted into the soil. It 
th e COCDnr,on for the line or hook to become entangled among 
f ro ®° s fiells, and powerful ell'ort is required to drag them 
te K *^ le ' r attachment; which is only affected by breaking 
Jssus, or tearing away the ground to which it is attached. 
th 
