. Ocean wonders: a companion for the seaside. regardedfor its edible qualities, its interesting habits form its princi-pal attraction to the zoological connoisseur. Its history isunique—its fame wide as Christendom. Being very plenti-ful on the shores of Palestine, it became customary for allEuropean pilgrims, on their return, to attach a scallop-shellto their dress to prove that they had really been to the HolyLand. So thoroughly was it identified with Christian knight-hood and saintship, that it became the insignia not only of the great apostle whose char-acteristics the monks changedfrom fi
. Ocean wonders: a companion for the seaside. regardedfor its edible qualities, its interesting habits form its princi-pal attraction to the zoological connoisseur. Its history isunique—its fame wide as Christendom. Being very plenti-ful on the shores of Palestine, it became customary for allEuropean pilgrims, on their return, to attach a scallop-shellto their dress to prove that they had really been to the HolyLand. So thoroughly was it identified with Christian knight-hood and saintship, that it became the insignia not only of the great apostle whose char-acteristics the monks changedfrom fisherman to warrior, butthe recognized badge of sev-eral of the half-saintly, half-chivalrous orders of knightswhich arose and flourished inthe middle ages. But, not to dwell on itsillustrious associations, oreven on the intrinsic beautyof the shell itself, we willbestow our attention uponthe inhabitant, which, if itprided itself on its ancestry, might certainly boast, over allthe mollusks, of its sang azure. All shell-fish have over their. Scallop (Pecten irradians). HOUSE-BUILDERS OF THE SEA. 47 bodies and beneath their shells a flexible tissue known astheir mantle; it is, indeed, from the secretions of thismantle, of many folds, that the shelly carapace is originallyformed. In the case of the scallop a portion of this mantlecan usually be seen, showing a finely-fringed curtain of scar-let or orange, the mantle itself being of a delicate fawn-color, the whole set off with a number of bright, glisteningeyes, of an elegant emerald-green, encircled with a band ofturquoise-blue. The finest jewels of our fairest belles canbe no brighter than the natural adornments of this commonmollusk. In their native element alone the scallops show toperfection all the beauties Nature has lavished upon them,especially when seen in motion. They move in a rapid zig-zag fashion, and with the speed of an arrow, the propellingforce being secured by the rapid opening and shutting oftheir valves. One
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectmarineanimals, bookye
