natural sciences of philadelphia. 131 



Lamellibranchiata. 



Anomia ephippium, Linn. 



Abundant in all situations. 



Ostrea virginiana, Latr. 



Abundant, of excellent quality ; worth, according to season, 

 from 25 cents to 50 cents per bushel. 



0. equestris, Say. 



Abundant; adhering to rocks, with Modiola and Mytilus. 



" Prof. Stimpson informs me that this is not a N. C. species, 

 although it is in his Beaufort list. The specimens seem to me to 

 agree exactly with Say's description and figure ; they are short 

 and small, with from six to twelve denticulations on the upper 

 valve near the beak, received into corresponding depressions on 

 the edge of the lower valve." 



Plicatula depressa, Lam. 

 Frequent. Beach. 



Lima scabra, Born. 

 IS'os. 2615-6-7, dredged in the channel. 



Pecten dislocatus, Say. 



Abundant. All the live ones I saw were on the sand-bars and 

 somewhat muddy flats about the harbor ; the worn and variously 

 discolored valves are strewn everywhere. The scallops bring a 

 high price in the market ; the muscle is considered the only edible 

 part. These molluscs, and the large Cytherea, furnish some part 

 of the food of the herring gulls in winter. 



"Distinguished by the interrupted and dislocated colored mark- 

 ings from P. irradians, Lam., which has concentric bands of color. 

 Some of the specimens probably belong to this last species ; but 

 all the perfect ones I examined, even though showing prominent 

 concentric bands, display the zigzag markings, especially when 

 placed in water, so as to bring out the colors." 



Pecten concentricus, Say. (P. irradians, Lam.) 



Amono; the interminable variations in color of worn specimens, 

 some are pure white, or with only faint coloration in apparently 

 perfectly regular and concentric bands. 



1871.] 



