. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Reptiles; Fishes; Mollusks; Natural history; Reptiles; Poissons; Mollusques; Sciences naturelles. THE CHINESE PEAEL-^MUSSKL 427 liinkcn into a chamber already excavated by anotlier individual, and forced its way fairly inhaliitant as w;'ll as the habitation. liie animal is slightly luminous, as is the case with most of the burrowing molluscs. The colour of the shell is uniformly pale brown. The FiNftER Date-siikll, which is seen lying on the ground just under the ]\russel, is a idck Imri'ower, and so beautifully decorated that it s
. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Reptiles; Fishes; Mollusks; Natural history; Reptiles; Poissons; Mollusques; Sciences naturelles. THE CHINESE PEAEL-^MUSSKL 427 liinkcn into a chamber already excavated by anotlier individual, and forced its way fairly inhaliitant as w;'ll as the habitation. liie animal is slightly luminous, as is the case with most of the burrowing molluscs. The colour of the shell is uniformly pale brown. The FiNftER Date-siikll, which is seen lying on the ground just under the ]\russel, is a idck Imri'ower, and so beautifully decorated that it seems a sad pity to bury so lovely a sliL'll in HO dark a recess. At a little distance it is ([uite ordinary in appearance, being apparently a i)lain, mahogany-coloured shell; but wlien examined closely, it is found to ln' formed, coloured with a peculiarly rich ruddy brown hue, and sculptured witli myriads of minuti; waved ridges and channels drawn crosswise over the shell, which jrivo wonderful eifects of light and shade, and heighten the tints materially. The animal ise'lible, and is eaten like that of the common Mussel. Ox the upper part of the illustration, and towards the left hand, may be .seen a rather nuiims-looking shell, which, from its rude resemblance to the familiar toy of childhood, is culled the NoAHS Ark. The Ark-shells are found all over the woi'ld, liidden under stones, in the crevices of rucks, or even within the tV)rsaken burrows of the pholas or the <late-shell. Owing to their ivtiiing liabits, and the nature of the localities in which they live, they are mostly (lisliirted or damaged. Tiiey can move themstdves very fairly'by means of a curious Clinical byssus, composed of a series of thin plates, which can be cast olf or re-formed at the will of the animal. In- the two species rejiresentcd in tlu; following illustration, we have examples of pearl-bearing molluscs inhabiting the ' Ai waters. The EiiiTlsii Pearl-mussel was oi.'v, a valuable i
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubj, booksubjectfishes, booksubjectmollusks
