148 ANIMALS OF THE SEASHORE 



variety pellucidus, and a brown form known as notatvs 

 but these are probably merely genetic types and 

 occur with the typical edulis. 



The mussel is frequently found attached by its 

 thread-like byssus to piles and rocks along the New 

 Jersey coast; it also lives below low water and is 

 known from 25 or more fathoms. The mussels from 

 deeper water often grow much larger than those of 

 the intertidal zone. The bottom of the ocean and 

 Delaware Bay in many places is covered with 

 mussels, and after severe storms these shells are 

 washed up on the beach in great numbers. Starfish 

 are often abundant on these mussel grounds. 



Although usually anchored to one spot by its 

 byssus, the mussel may "break anchor" and move 

 about by means of its foot and attach itself by secret- 

 ing new byssal threads. 



The mussel is prized as food in Europe but does 

 not seem to have found much favor in the United 

 States. 



Mytilus recurvus Rafmesque (Southern Mussel) 

 (31. hamatus Say; 31. clava Meuschen) 



PLATE XIX. Fig. 12 



Differs from the above by being twisted near 

 the beak and by being striated; usually dark brown 

 in color and smaller than the above. Abundant from 

 Chesapeake Bay southward; local in New Jersey and 

 southern New England; probably introduced into 

 Barnegat Bay with seed oysters from the Chesa- 

 peake. 



