64 



EAST COAST MARINE SHELLS 



TAGELOS GIBBOS Spengler. Shell subcylin- 

 drlcal, thick, rounded at posterior end 

 and with umbones near extremity; hinge with 

 two awl-shaped cardinal teeth in each valve, 

 curved, ascending; interior white, 1?hick- 

 ened. Length 4 inches. 



A much stronger shell than T. divlsus. 



PI. 25, Fig. 4 



Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Florida 



and Texas 



Family Solenidae 



Shell equivalve, much elongated, 

 gaping at both ends. 



GENUS ENSIS Schumacher 1817 

 (RAZOR SHELLS) 



Sides of shell almost parallel; 

 cardinal teeth small, rounded; valves more 

 or less curved. 



ENSIS DIRECTUS Conrad. Shell curved, scab- 

 bard shaped; epidermis light yellowish 

 green; length of shell six times the width; 

 one tooth on hinge and sharp plate of one 

 valve entering between; two teeth and dou- 

 ble plate upon other valve. Length 6 inches. 



This species is almost identical to 

 the European one. It lives on sandy beach- 

 es at low water mark, projecting a little 

 above the level of the sand. When disturbed 

 it rapidly disappears. The animal is much 

 larger than the shell, the foot club-shaped. 



PI. 24, Fig. 8 



PI. 72, Fig. 4 



Labrador to the Florida Keys 



GENUS SOLEN Linne 1758 



Umbones almost anterior; exterior 

 polished; valves usually straight. 



SOLEN VIRIDIS Say. Green Solen. Shell ob- 

 long, compressed; hinge margin almost 

 straight; lov;er margin curved; posterior 

 end obliquely cut off, slightly reflected 

 and rounded near base; anterior end roxond- 

 ed; surface almost smooth; epidermis pale 

 green. Length 2 inches. 



PI. 24, Fig. 3 



Rhode Island to west coast of 



Florida 



GENOS SILIQUA Megerle von Muhlfeld 1811 

 (POD SHELLS) 



Shell compressed, moderately gap- 

 ing; umbones minute. 



SILIQUA COSTATA Say. Ribbed Pod. Shell 

 thin, fragile, smooth, diaphanous; epider- 

 mis shining and smooth, light yellow-green 

 blended with violet, rather iridescent; 

 internal ribs white, bending backward two 

 to three over valves. Length 2 inches. 



A shallow v/ater species, abundant 

 upon sandy beaches. It is one of the hand- 

 somest shells found in New England. Than 

 the following it is much smaller and more 

 delicate. There are two arrangements of col- 

 or in both rays and zones. 



PI. 25, Fig. 5 



PI. 72, Fig. '6 



Giilf of St. Lavn'ence to North 



Carolina 



SILIQUA SQUAMA Blainville. Scaly Pod. Shell 

 rounded at both ends; umbones very small; 

 white but covered with strong, shining yel- 

 lowish-green epidermis which is roughened 

 at posterior end; prominent rib inside ex- 

 tending from umbones about halfway across 

 shell. Length 2.5 inches. 



It is often found in the stomachs 

 of fish caught at the Banks and off the 

 New England coast. 



PI. 16, Fig. 9 



Banks of Nova Scotia and New England 



Family Mactridae 



Shell equivalve, close or slightly 

 gaping; ligament external or Internal and 

 contained in a deep pit; epidermis heavy; 

 hinge with two diverging cardinal teeth, 

 lateral teeth present or absent. 



GENUS MACTRA Llnn^ 1767 

 (BEACH CLAlilS) 



Foot of animal strong, bent, 

 tongue-shaped, adapted to life in the surf 

 and sands. 



MACTRA FRAGILIS Gmelin. Frail Clam. Shell 

 white, thin, covered with a light yellow- 

 ish brown epidermis; decidedly gaping; 

 concentric sculpture closely placed. 

 Length 2 inches. 



PI. 24, Fig. 6 



North Carolina to Gulf of Mexico; 



Brazil 



GENUS SPISULA Gray 1838 



SPISULA SOLIDISSIMA Dillwyn. This giant 

 and strong clam measures 4-7 inches in 

 length; cardinal tooth small, fragile. 



