vi EAST COAST MARINE SHELLS 



Juvenile shells often exhibit the characters of their elders and, there- 

 fore, can be Identified. At times, species are encountered which present 

 in the young stages quite a different aspect from the adult. Then connect- 

 ing series are necessary to show the correct relationship. 



A number of years have passed since the appearance of a work 

 covering the shells of the American east coast. Many recent additions to 

 the fauna have led the author to compile for his use check lists of local 

 material secured in New England and the various southern states. With 

 these lists as a nucleus it has been necessary to prepare descriptions of 

 the various species and the families under which they are grouped. Some 

 of the descriptions were obtained from the source, the original author's 

 work often contained in some obscure journal or monograph. A considerable 

 number of photographs of east coast shells have been taken personally by 

 the writer for the present volume. Many of these subjects are in his pri- 

 vate collection, others in museums in various parts of the country. The 

 majority of the specimens illustrated were collected upon the mainland of 

 the United States and verified by the finders. Most of the deep water 

 forms are housed in the National Museum. No doubt errors occur, both in 

 the identifications of the little-known species and in certain nomenclature. 

 The aid of students is sought in the correction of mistakes. Only with 

 the assistance of all may the truthful mirror of life be presented. 



The author is deeply grateful to many friends for helpful 

 suggestions together with the loan and donation of specimens, especially to: 

 Dr. Henry A. Pilsbry of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia; Prof. 

 William J. Clench of Harvard University; Joshua L. Baily, Jr., of San Diego, 

 California; Dr. Paul Bartsch and Dr. H. A. Rehder of the National Museum, 

 Washington, D.C.; Dr. Louise Perry of Sanibel. Florida; Dr. George A. Water- 

 man of Palm Beach, Florida; Paul P. McGinty and his sons Paul L. McGinty, 

 and Thomas L. McGinty, of Boynton, Florida; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lyman and 

 Jack Lyman, of Lantana; and Albert Pflueger of Miami, Florida. The writer 

 Is particularly Indebted to Thomas L. McGinty for many fine drawings which 

 accompany the text, also the map of Florida which he so painstakingly pre- 

 pared, and to Miss Elizabeth Pilsbry, daughter of the distinguished malacol- 

 ogist Dr. Henry A. Pilsbry for the illustration accompanying the Wordsworth 

 quotation. Without the cooperati^in of these and manjr other earnest workers 

 the records within these pages would be far less complete. 



Lantana, Florida, November 15, 1936. 



