326 MigheW Catalogue of 



is the variety (if indeed it is a variety,) which Mr. Lea de- 

 scribed as a new species, under the name of A. newtonensis. 

 It is plentiful at the place referred to. 



Genus Mytilus. Lin. 



M. edulis, Lin. This is the only species of the genus 

 that occurs north of Cape Cod. It is distributed over the 

 whole coast of Maine from Piscataqua to Passamaquoddy ; 

 and in some of our quiet bays it congregates in countless mil- 

 hons, whence it is often carted off by our farmers, in the winter 

 season, deposited in heaps, and in the spring distributed over 

 their fields for manure. It is not used as food in Maine. 



The variety M, pelhcidus of Pennant is abundant. I have 

 observed it to be most so on the unprotected coast, near low- 

 water mark, attached to ledges and pebbles with a shorter bis- 

 sus than that which belongs to the more common variety. 



Genus Modiola. Lam. 



M. modiolus, Lin. This species is plentiful on all our 

 shores, it is sometimes thrown up by storms in immense 

 quantities, and is carted off by the farmers for manure. It is 

 found abundantly on some of the islands in Casco Bay, above 

 low-water mark, whence it is procured by the islanders and 

 sold in the market as an article of food, which is highly es- 

 teemed by some. I once found it plenty near Fort Preble, in 

 company with Saxicava distoria, just above low-water mark, 

 during a spring tide. It is proper, however, to remark that 

 they were so situated that they were never left by the water. 



M. plicatula, Lam. This species does not occur in Casco 

 Bay. 1 have inserted it on the authority of Dr. Jackson's 

 " Report on the Geology of MaincJ^ 



M. nexa, Gould. Pelagic. Extremely rare in Casco Bay. 

 I have found it in no other situation but in the stomachs of 

 haddock. 



M. pectinula, Gould. I am indebted to a fisherman for a 

 single specimen of this shell, which he took from the stomach 

 of a cod-fish, caught in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 



