312 MigheW Catalogue of 



A. vitrea, Lam. Pelagic. This is a good species, and, 

 probably, is the only one that is truly indigenous. It is occa- 

 sionally found dead and bleached on our shores after storms. 

 In 1840, it was found on one of the islands in Casco Bay, in 

 great numbers, alive, attached to sea-weed that had been 

 thrown up a short time previous by a violent storm. 



Genus Pholas. Lin. 



P. crispata, Lin. Pelagic. This species is probably plenty 

 in its proper station, but owing to its habit of boring into hard 

 clay and mud, to great depths, in deep water, it is difficult to 

 obtain, and therefore rare in collections. Imperfect speci- 

 mens are often thrown upon our beaches, and it is sometimes 

 brought up on the flukes of anchors in Portland harbor in a 

 state of great perfection. I have one specimen, thus ob- 

 tained, whicli is four and a half inches in length and two and 

 one eighth inches in width. 



Genus Solen. Lin. 



iS. ensis, Lin. Littoral. This species is found in great 

 abundance in some of our bays, near low-water mark. We 

 sometimes find dwarfish specimens upon our sandy beaches, 

 after storms, but they attain the greatest size and perfection 

 in quiet bays, near the mouths of rivers, where the mud is 

 soft and deep. They sometimes bury themselves to the depth 

 of two feet. I have been informed, by intelHgent fishermen, 

 that they have found them near the mouths of the Kenne- 

 bec and Penobscot rivers, a foot in length ! but I have never 

 yet seen one quite seven inches long. 



Genus Solecurtus. Plain. 



S. caribceus, Chemnitz, Lam. Con. This is a pelagic shell, 

 and of very rare occurrence in Maine. I have only found it 

 in a bleached state and in fragments. It is unquestionably 

 one of the most widely distributed species known to concholo- 

 gists. I Iiave received it from nearly every Atlantic state from 

 Maine to Alabama, and not long since, specimens exactly 



