162 ANIMALS OF THE SEASHORE 



Mya arenaria Linne (Soft Shelled Clam; 



Nanny-Nose) 



PLATE XIX. Fig. 6 



Shell oval and not as thick as the Hard Shell 

 Clam [Venus). A single large tooth on one valve 

 fits into a pit on the opposite valve. 



The soft clam lives in mud fats along' the New 

 Jersey coast, hut usually prefers a more muddy asso- 

 ciation than Venus. Its siphons are much longer than 

 those of the hard clam and may even be longer than 

 the shell of the clam. When disturbed in its burrow 

 it quickly withdraws its siphon within the shell 

 ejecting a jet of water into the air. Its usual size 

 is '2 to 3 inches in length. Known from the Arctic 

 regions to Cape Hatteras, but rare south of Chesa- 

 peake Bay. It is used as food, but is not quite as 

 popular in New Jersey as the Hard Shell Clam. 



Corbula contracta Say 



PLATE XIX. Fig. 8 



About half an inch long with a single tooth in 

 each valve fitting into a pit on the opposite valve; 

 shell smooth with concentric ridges. Cape Cod to 

 Florida; occasionally dredged in shallow water off 

 the New Jersey coast. 



