MOLLUSCS 159 



New Jersey beaches. Range: Massachusetts to the 

 Gulf of Mexico. 



Tagelus divisus Spengler 



Smaller and narrower than the above; similar in 

 range and habits, but much rarer. 



Ensis directus Conrad (Razor Clam) 



(Sole 11 americana Gould) 



PLATE XV. Fig. 1 



This is the common razor clam of the New Jersey 

 coast; shell slightly curved, white, but covered with 

 an olive green epidermis; up to 6 inches in length; 

 two teeth on the right valve and three on the left. 



This species is known as the razor clam because 

 of its resemblance to an old fashioned razor. These 

 clams burrow into the mud perpendicularly to a 

 depth of 2 or 3 feet. Sometimes they can be seen 

 projecting slightly out of their holes; however, they 

 burrow very rapidly and are often very difficult to 

 catch. 



An easy method of obtaining some of these ani- 

 mals alive is to sprinkle salt on the mud flats where 

 they are living. The salt will cause them to quickly 

 come out of their holes and they may then be readily 

 collected. One must be careful to put the speci- 

 mens in a jar or other container, because upon being 

 laid flat on the mud they soon recover and with a 

 quick movement of their foot, they may right them- 

 selves and burrow rapidly again into the mud. 



This clam is common in mud flats and shallow 



