disappears. When it chooses to regain the surface it forms the termination of the tongue into the shape of a ball, and makes an effort to extend the whole tongue: but the ball prevents any further descent and the muscular effort necessarily pushes the shel upward until it reaches the surface. It is amazing with what dexterity and quickness these seemingly awkward motions are performed.

Two kinds of razor-fish (solen siliqua and ensis are, in many places of this country, used as food In Scotland they are indiscriminately termed Spout fish. They are found upon most sandy shores buried about a foot or two below the surface, an near to the low-water mark. Their place is know by a small hole in the sand. As it is rather a labo rious operation to dig them out, Bosc informs us that the fishermen of France throw a small pinch salt into their holes, which always remain open b the action of the respiratory organs; that the speedily rise to the surface, and are thrown out b an iron instrument made for the purpose. fishermen believe that it is the salt which they wis to avoid; but it is conjectured, with greater pr bability, that the presence of the salt water, whic is thus formed by the solution of the salt, make the animal suppose that its hole is again covere with the tide. This shell-fish was esteemed by th antients as a great delicacy. When boiled or frie it is certainly a very palatable morsel. If kept fo a few days, it forms an excellent bait for haddod or cod, and may be employed for that purpose in fresh state.

Th

The tellinæ are usually found buried in sand gravel on the sea-shores, and some kinds in rive or ditches. Among all the different genera of bivalve

næ, in elegance of form, brilliancy of colour, acy of structure.

Cardium, a cockle; inhabitant, a Tethys.

sandy shores of almost all the known seas, f the species of cockle are to be observed. f them are found immersed in the sand, at the of a few inches. Their size is various, from six inches to half an inch in diameter. The on cockle (c. edule) is well known. All the loive powers of the cockle are concentrated in angular yellow foot, which is so conspicuous we open the shells. This foot is not only capable at inflexion, but also of seizing with its point the ous matter which proceeds from it, drawing this reads, and thereby, in some measure, securing imals within the sand. Few of our shell-fish ore common, in inlets and bays near the mouths vers, than these. In such situations they are ly found immersed at the depth of two or three s in the sand, the place of each being marked small circular depressed spot. When they their shells, the entrance into these is protected soft membrane, which entirely closes up the except in two places, at each of which there is all, yellow, and fringed tube. By means of e tubes it is that the animals receive and eject water which conveys to their body the nutriment ssary for their support. Women and children ly dig up this shell-fish with a small spade. kles are sold by measure, and eaten either raw, ed, or pickled. They are deservedly esteemed licious and wholesome food in this country, alugh in France they are little regarded. They are eason during March, April, and May, after which y become milky and insipid. They are not geally used as a bait.

8. Mactra, kneading-trough; inhabitant, a Teth These are generally found at the mouths of riv immediately beneath the surface of the sand, among substances that have been thrown up, left by the sea. The prevailing colour is a blu or yellowish white. The m. solida is used as f by the common people about Dartmouth.

9. Donax, wedge-shell; inhabitant, a Tethys. Generally found in the sand on the sea sho when left dry by the reflux of the tide. The prevai colour is a fine rich purple; but many species ar an olive-yellow cast. The donax probably deri its name from its shape, which resembles the h of a javelin; or, from the rapidity with which animal darts into the sand on the approach of ger; its arrowy shell being well calculated for p trating quickly the yielding substance of the shor

10. Venus, Venus-shell; inhabitant, a Tethys The whole of this elegant genus are oceanic, b either found in the mud or sand, when the tide receded, or fished up from very deep water. Venus-shells, of which there are more than 150 cies, are remarkable for the brilliancy of their col and the smoothness of their surfaces, the inte being often adorned with the most lovely tints some species, of the richest purple. The v. lastra, called by the inhabitants of Devonshire pu and eaten by them, is also known in the nort islands by the name of cullyock, and there used bait.

11. Spondylus, artichoke-head shell; inhabitan Tethys.

These shells are found at a considerable dept the ocean firmly attached to rocks, particularly the coasts of the Mediterranean, where the anim

as food. The colours of the spondylus, which ange, purple, &c. are sometimes extremely

nt.

Chama, clamp-shell; inhabitant, a Tethys.
se, like the last genus, all inhabit the sea, and
und in very deep water; they are all edible.
species of the chama grow to an uncommon
the bear's-paw clam (c. hippopus) usually of a
wish cast, with pink spots, is found from one
to near a foot in length. But this appears as
ng when compared with the giant clam (c. gigas),
, from a quarter of an inch, will grow to the
nous size of four and a half feet in breadth. The
clamp frequently weighs from 100 to 130 or
ounds; and specimens of this weight occur in
public museums of Natural History in Europe.
ndividual of this species is recorded by concho-
al writers that weighed 532 lbs., including both
hells and the animal; and the latter was so large
furnish 120 men with food for a meal, and
g enough, by the sudden collapsing or snapping
valves, to cut asunder a cable rope, and to take
ne hand of a man. This enormous species in-
ts the Indian seas. Those of the largest size we
acquainted with are from the seas contiguous to
sland of Borneo, whence they are occasionally
ght as objects of curiosity into Europe, and kept
rnaments in gardens. During the early part of
last century they were in much request for the
oration of fountains, grottos, and reservoirs of
er, especially in Italy. This gigantic shell was
fectly familiar to the poets and sculptors of an-
ity; Venus is fabled to have risen in one of
m from the bottom of the sea, an allegory which
afforded matter for several of the most exqui-
ecompositions of antient as well as modern art-
5. On antique gems and cameos, Venus under
rious characters, Amphitrite, Doris, and other god-

desses and nymphs in the train of Oceanus, frequent appear upborne upon the waves.

Dryden thus a

13. Arca, ark-shell; inhabitant, a Tethys. The ark-shells are found in the sea, and on t sands and mud on the shores of the ocean, genera between low and high-water marks: some of the are occasionally used as food. It receives its na from one of the species being supposed to resemb Noah's Ark.

14. Ostrea, oyster and scallop; inhabitant, a Tethy

This shell-fish is widely distributed, being found the seas of Europe, Asia, and Africa. But since t days of the luxurious Romans the oysters of Brita have been held in the highest estimation. They we noted in the time of Juvenal, who, satyrizing epicure, says,

He, whether Circe's rock his oysters bore,

Or Lucrine lake, or distant Richborough's shore,

The luxurious Romans were very fond of this fi and had their layers or stews for oysters as have at present. The antients ate them raw, a sometimes roasted. They had also a custom stewing them with mallows and docks, or with fi and esteemed them very nourishing. Oysters found on various parts of our coasts, from southern shores of England to the sheltered ba among the Zetland Islands; but those chiefly ce brated for them are the coasts of Essex and Suffo here they are dredged up by means of a net (w an iron scraper at the mouth), which is drag by a rope from a boat, over the beds. As soon