No. 6 (1921) COMMON MOLLUSCS OF SOUTH INDL-^ 187 



generally as matti in Tamil districts. Its valves are thick and 

 massive, the exterior covered with a strongly adherent brownish 

 periostracum, dull in appearance, that varies much in tint even 

 in one locality. A purplish black band margins the posterior 

 edges of the shell to a depth of about a quarter of an inch, 

 extending from the hinge to the posterior angle of the shell ; 

 unlike the yellow colouring of the rest of the shell, this dark pig- 

 ment permeates the substance of the valves and shows equally 

 upon both the inner and the outer surface. None of the radial 

 banding of M. ovum is shown, nor any of the diverse colour schemes 

 of spots and chevrons so often found on the umbos of M. meretrix. 



Although often very abundant it is generally less common than 

 the corresponding species on the West Coast and is held in less 

 esteem by the people. It is, however, eagerly sought for wherever 

 it abounds. At Pulicat, for instance, as many as 30 women may 

 often be seen collecting this shell-fish in the shallows opposite to 

 the town. Unlike the Malabar custom, men here seldom engage 

 in this work ; Pariah women and girls alone carry it on. They 

 work for preference during low tide when the depth of water is 

 reduced over the beds. From time to time as they gather the 

 clams, they pile them in heaps on an adjacent sand-bank. When 

 they judge it time to drop fishing, they adjourn to the sand-bank, 

 and there proceed to smash the clams one by one by striking 

 theni against a heavy stone. As each is broken open they deftly 

 extract the meat with a push of the thumb, dropping it into a 

 small earthen pot containing a little water. In this way in a short 

 time each woman has emptied the whole of her catch, amounting 

 to several hundreds. The broken shells are left behind for the 

 lessee who has bought the right to the shells for lime-making, and 

 who permits these women to collect them on this condition. 



Women's wages at Pulicat averaged 2^ to 3 annas per day in 

 1914 and the value of the catch of clams made in a day by one 

 woman working hard, was usually valued at this amount. The 

 bulkof the clam meat obtained is however generally used to supply 

 the needs of the woman's own family; if any surplus is left, it is 

 often exchanged for paddy, bulk for bulk, I am informed. At times 

 when specially large quantities are obtainable, the surplus flesh is 

 sun-dried to serve as stock for use during the rainy season when 

 the collection of clams is interrupted owing to increase in the 

 depth of water over the beds. 



