134 VENERID^. 



nearly smooth. There are also minute lines, radiating- from the 

 beaks to the margin, most conspicuous on the beaks, where they 

 form a lattice-work with the concentric lines ; color a dirty white, 

 except the smooth portion of the disk, which is dark violet ; within 

 pure white ; muscular impressions deep, united by a well-marked 

 pallia! impression, which has an acute angled, not very deep sinus ; 

 the margin outside the impressions is more or less of a beautiful 

 deep violet hue ; basal and anterior margin crenulatcd. Length, 

 three inches ; height, two and a half inches ; breadth, two inches. 



Brought from Wellfleet and other towns on Cape Cod in consider- 

 able quantities to Boston market. It is found more abundantly at the 

 South, and in New York and Philadcl])hia markets supersedes the 

 use of the Mija arenaria almost entirely, while it may be found in 

 greater or less abundance in all the region of Cape Cod, and scantily 

 in all parts of Massachusetts Bay. Coast of Maine, far to the east- 

 ward of Portland (Mighels') ; Halifax, Sable Island, Prince Edward's 

 Island, Fishing Banks (^Wi/Us^ ; Gulf of St. Lawrence (Log-ari). 



The shell is easily known l)y its size and weight, and by its heart- 

 shaped form when resting upon its point. It is about the same size 

 as Cypriua Iskmdica, from which it is distinguished by the sharp 

 ridges on its surface, and l)y the want of an epidermis ; also l)y the 

 violet-colored border of the interior of the valves. This mark, how- 

 ever, is not constant. In young shells it is wanting, and also in 

 very old shells the color is often obscured by a thick white glazing. 

 Fishermen say that those found outside Cape Cod, in the region of 

 Chatham, are always devoid of it. The shell has become quite fa- 

 mous from the fact that, from its ])ur])le edge, the aborigines manu- 

 factured their ])urple wamjium ; while the white wampum was made 

 of various species of shells, but chiefly from the axis of Pyrula. 



It is known in Massachusetts under the name of Qua/iog'.* It is 

 the clam of New York and Philadelphia. The upper outline of the 

 figure (in the first edition) represents this shell. 



* The following items relative to the (lerivution of this word, and the connection of this 

 shell witli aboriginal history, may be a])pro])riately presented: — 



"A piece of Poquahanges, a rare shell, and a dainty food with the Indians. The flesh 

 eats like veal ; the English make pyes thereof; and of tlic shells tlie Indians make money. 



" Young Pocinahanges, Pectunculus fasciatus. 



" It is called Wampampecge." — Governor Winthrop's Curiosities from New England, 

 Journal of the Royal Society, June 27, 1634. 



"Called by some English /ten^i-jm/nahock ; thrcQ are equal to a j)enny ; a fathom is 

 worth five shillings." — liorjer \]'il/iains. 



" The quahaug ( Venus mercetiaria), called by Roger Williams the po<juaa and the fien, is 



