THE ECONOMIC MOLLUSCA OF ACADIA. 



33 



The common name of this species is very appropriate, for it tapers 

 1:o both ends. The shell is very graceful, being symmetrically spired 

 above and prolonged into a slender curved canal below. It is of a dull 

 bluish white color when deprived of its thin horn- 

 colored epidermis, and is white within. The whorls 

 show a few revolving lines. The animal is while, 

 with small irregular specks of black. It is usually 

 about three inches in length when full-grown. 



But little is known of its habits. It probably 

 lives upon animal food. It occupies rocky bottoms, 

 generally in water from thirty to fifty fathoms in 

 depth, though in the Bay of Fundy the strong tides 

 .afford it at low-water mark the cold water it needs. 

 It never lives in schools, but singly, on which ac- 

 count it is difficult to obtain it in any quantity, 

 and being comparatively scarce it can never be of 

 much value. 



Economics. It may be used as food. 

 Willis says of it: " Parties who have editen Fw. 4.— Fusus Man- 

 it inform me that they consider it quite a f^'^""*- One-haif 

 delicacy." We do not find that it is ever «' "^^urai size, 

 •eaten by the fishermen, and it is never for sale in any of our 

 markets. It would doubtless form good bait for cod, pollock, 

 •etc. The shells are used as mantel ornaments in fishermen's 

 houses. 



5. Buccinum cinereum Say. 

 Urosal2nnx cinerea St. 

 Drill, Borer, Snail-bore. 



[Buccinum, a trumpet; cinerea, ashy.] 



Distribution, {a) General; — About low-water mark and 

 in shallow water. Coast of Florida to Massachussets Bay. 

 'Casco Bay, Gulf of St. Lawrence. 



{b) In Acadia; — Southern part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 

 Verrill. Prince Edward Island, Dawson. Distribution pro- 

 'bably coincides with that of the Oyster, though it seems to 

 be nowhere abundant. 



Habits. It is a very rough, dull-colored shell, looking not very 

 unlike Buccinum undatum, but is smaller, rougher and generally lighter 

 an color. It is longer in proportion to its breadth, has the revolving 



