158 ANIMALS OF THE SEASHORE 



New Jersey; abundant in the north; rare in New 

 Jersey and occasionally found associated with M. 

 balthica. 



Donax fossor Say (Wedge Clam) 



PLATE XIV. Fig. 16 



A small shell, up to V. inch in length, elongated 

 in front, obliquely rounded and short behind. The 

 radiating sculpture is superimposed by a thin layer 

 making the surface of the shell entirely smooth; 

 white or purple in color. Very common on sandy 

 beaches where it often may be seen burrowing into 

 the sand at low tide line just as the waves recede 

 Very common from Long Island to Texas, abundant 

 in New Jersey. 



A closely related form, Donax variabilis Say is 

 found on beaches from North Carolina southward. 

 This species has the posterior obliquely truncated 

 and the sides noticeably angular; it reaches a length 

 of 1% inches and usually is more brilliantly colored 

 than the more northern fossor. In Florida, where this 

 species is especially abundant, it is known as the 

 Coquina or Pompano Clam, and is often used for 

 broth. 



Tagelus globus Spengler 



PLATE XV. Fig. 2 



An elongated white shell covered with a yellow- 

 ish epidermis. It burrows dee]) in the mud and is 

 seldom seen alive. The shell is very common on all 



