180 PROCEEDrNTGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 109 



Family Tellinidae 



Genus Tellina Lamarck, 1799 

 Tcllina lutea Wood, 1828 (ex Gray, MS.) 



Tellina lutea Wood, 1828, pi. 1, Tcllina, fig. 3.— Dall, 1900, p. 322, pi, 4, figs. 15, 

 16.— Oldroyd, 1924, p. 109, pi. 1, fig. 9.— Abbott, 1954, p. 425, figs. 87c,d. 

 Tellina lutea venulosa Schrenck, 1861, p. 412.— 01dr03^d, 1924, p. 169, pi. 1, fig. 11. 

 Peronidia venulosa Kira, 1954, p. 120, pi. 60, fig. 29. 



Neither living nor dead specimens of this species were dredged in 

 the area investigated off Point Barrow base, but about 200 yards in- 

 land from the shore, at depths of from 8 to 15 feet, wliere a tunnel 

 was being excavated for the storage of food, shells and valves were 

 abundant. Shells up to 74 mm. long were found. 



Other material examined: (Including T. lutea venulosa.) Numer- 

 ous specimens from localities ranging from Bering Island, the Pribilofs, 

 and the Aleutians to Cook Inlet; also Sakhalin Island, northern 

 Japan. 



Discussion : In some of these specimens the posterior end is almost 

 straight and in others it is as curved as that of Alacoma nasuta. In 

 some there are lamellose extensions at the lines of growth. There is 

 great variation in the weight of shells of the same size. T. lutea 

 venulosa is said to be ''much narrower and more pointed at the pos- 

 terior end," but examination of many specimens shows that there are 

 all combinations of characters and all intergrades. The "venulose" 

 characteristic is found only in specimens in which the periostracum 

 has been injured, allowing chemical action and the deposition of 

 foreign materials in checks in the shell. 



Distribution: Point Barrow, Alaska, the Aleutians and Cook 

 Inlet, also northern Japan, and Bering Island east of Kamchatka. 



Genus Macoma ^* Leach, 1819 



Macoma incongrua (Martens, 1865) 



Tellina incongrua Martens, 1865, p. 430. 



Macoma incongrua Oldroyd, 1924, p. 170, pi. 42, fig. 10. 



A single specimen, measuring 25 by 20 by 8.5 mm., washed ashore 

 on Sept. 22, 1949. 



Other material examined: Several specimens from Alaska. 



Distribution: From Point Barrow south to San Diego, CaHf., 

 and also from Japan. Point Barrow is a new locality. 



M Since no specimens of Mrcoma planvascula Grant and Gale were found at Point Barrow, the species 

 does not come within the scope of this paper. However, while examining specimens of the genus Macoma 

 in the U. S. National Museum, I observed some from England labeled Mncoma praetemiis Woodward that 

 appeared to be identical with M. planiuscula. Time did not permit a thorough investigation, but it Is a 

 matter that should be studied further. 



