530 
Mollusca. 
1. THE MUSSEL. (Mytilus edulis.) 
Like the oyster, the Mussel inhabits a bivalve shell, to 
which it adheres by a strong cartilaginous tie. The 
shells of several of the species are beautiful. The 
Mussel possesses the property of locomotion, which it 
performs with the member called its tongue, by which 
it gets hold of the rock, and is enabled to draw itself 
along ; it has also the property of emitting a kind of 
thread, called the byssus, which, fixing the sides of the 
shell upon the ground, answers the purpose of a cable, 
to keep the body of the fish steady. 
§ II. Univalves. 
2. THE ADMIRAL. 
One of the cone-shells, the inhabitant of which is a kind 
of snail, with a very distinct head. If nature has taken 
a delight in painting the wings of birds, the skins of 
quadrupeds, and the scales of fishes, she seems not to 
have been less pleased in pencilling the shells of these 
inhabitants of the deep. The variety, brightness, and 
versatility of the colouring have long been deservedly 
the object of man's admiration ; and we cannot help 
being astonished at the richness which a cabinet of 
well-selected shells presents to the eye. 
