98 
EDIBLE BRITISH MOLLUSKS. 
Fam. PECTINID^. 
PECrEiV.— SCALLOP. 
Pecten opercularis, Linnaeus. Lid Scallop. — 
Shell spherical ; valves convex, of nearly equal dimen- 
sions, rather strong; ribs 18 or 20 in number, finely 
striated, both longitudinally and transversely ; auricles 
nearly the same size ; ligament internal ; hinge without 
teeth. 
This is the common scallop of the people, and much 
smaller than the great scallop,^^ also subject to greater 
variety of colour. Specimens are found quite white, with 
a dark red line on the summit of each of the radiated 
ribs, (var. lineatvs,) also brown, yellow, speckled white 
and brown, purplish-pink, and orange. The specimen 
figured was dredged up off the Parson and Clerk rocks, 
at Dawlish, and at times there may be gathered baskets 
full on the beach between that town and the mouth of 
the Exe. The shells are much used in ornamental work ; 
and pretty baskets, pincushions, needle-books, etc., are 
made from the beautiful variegated valves. j 
The scallop may be called the butterfly of the ocean, j 
from its power of swimming or flying rapidly through | 
the water. This was observed by Pliny, who says that | 
the scallop is able to dart above the surface of the ^ 
water, just like an arrow.* By some this power is | 
supposed to be caused by the rapid opening and shutting | 
of the valves ; but Mr. Gosse states that after carefully j 
watching the habits of a Pecten, which he kept for j: 
some days in a glass phial of sea- water, he discovered j 
that the flitting motion was performed by forcing jets of | 
^ Pliny, Nat. Hist. vol. ii. bk. ix. cb. 45 (29). ' 
