. Juvenile Instructor. being however the onlychoice part. The border of the pectensmantle is dotted with brilliant eye spots,giving to the body a beautifulappearance. The crea-ture is remarkableamong bivalves for itspowers of motion, bythe rapid opening andclosing of its valves,it is able to dartthrough the water withgreat rapidity, andseeming ease. One ofthe commonest varietiesis known as the dancingpecten, because of itslively nature. Scallopshells are prized as orna-ments and in some partsof England they areused as scoops in handl-ing sugar and other such commodities in the shops of retailg
. Juvenile Instructor. being however the onlychoice part. The border of the pectensmantle is dotted with brilliant eye spots,giving to the body a beautifulappearance. The crea-ture is remarkableamong bivalves for itspowers of motion, bythe rapid opening andclosing of its valves,it is able to dartthrough the water withgreat rapidity, andseeming ease. One ofthe commonest varietiesis known as the dancingpecten, because of itslively nature. Scallopshells are prized as orna-ments and in some partsof England they areused as scoops in handl-ing sugar and other such commodities in the shops of retailgrocers. The wing shells belong to a relatedfamily the Ariculidac or little birdmollusks, so named from the unequalwing-like expansion of the shell on oneside of the umbo. This is illustrated infigure 9. To this family belong also thePearl Oysh-rs, {Mclcagrina), which areinhabitants of tropical seas. Theseshells often measure a yard in circum-ference, and though of a rough exteriorthey are lined with the most beautiful. Figures. Shell of tbe little bird moUusk yAuidua). nacre or pearl. This substance is asecretion of the animals body andenables it to keep the inside of its shellsmooth. If any irritating particle, suchas a tiny bit of stone, or a grain of sandbe carried into the shell, it is sooncovered with many layers of structures are the true pearls of
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Keywords: ., bookauthorgeorgequaylecannon182, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890
