552 
PHOLAS. 
body is a soft mass, terminating in a neck which 
can be exerted at the pleasure of the animal, but 
not furnished with any visible apparatus for boring 
of holes. The fact, however, is clear, as they are 
found in sufficient abundance on the different coasts 
of this kingdom, and particularly at Salcomb in 
South Devon, where Mr. Montague found great 
numbers of them, together with two other species 
of the same genus, burrowed in the stumps of old 
trees, which formerly grew there, but are now 
covered with the tide except at low water. It seems 
they are taken from their hiding-places by the 
fishermen, and used with success for baiting their 
hooks. 
The opinion which some persons have advanced 
respecting the want of power in these animals to 
perforate hard substances, is thus completely set 
aside ; and yet, when we consider the texture of 
their bodies, the idea that the pholades entered the 
stony substance in which they are frequently im- 
bedded, while it was in a soft state, and remained 
there till it petrified around them, may be ex- 
cused, It has been remarked that many of the 
pillars of the temple of Serapis at Puteoli were 
perforated by these animals. From thence the 
learned Dr. Bohadsch concludes, that the pholades 
must have imbedded themselves within them since 
they were erected ; for he very justly observes that 
the workmen would .certainly have rejected any 
stones for their building, that had been perforated 
in so many places by these creatures. The pho- 
