'94 THE ECONOMIC MOLLUSCA OF ACADIA. 



."being larger and more nearly circular in outline. The young liave the 

 ■ epidermis lighter in color — a light, yellowish horn-color. It is three 

 and one-half to four inches long and nearly as high. 



It is never found living where it can be exposed even by the lowest 

 tides, and hence, can be taken only by dredging or when cast up by the 

 waves. It seems to prefer mud bottoms, and Gould says, — "is most 

 frequent near where some river empties into the ocean."' It does not 

 Jive very deeply buried, as it is frequently cast up on beaches in great 

 numbers by the waves after a storm. 



EcoNOAiics. A useful and good food-mollusc, and fre- 

 quently eaten along with Venus mercenaria, from which it is 

 not usually distinguished except by large dealers. It is said 

 by good judges to be of very good flavor. Willis says it is 

 considered excellent food in Nova Scotia. The writer has 

 seen, at Lynn Beach, Massachusetts, dozens of men collecting 

 this species which had been cast up in great numbers after a 

 heavy storm. Many of them were shelled upon the spot, while 

 the rest were carted away to Lynn. They seemed to be highly 

 •esteemed by those who were taking them. We do not know 

 whether or not they are ever cast up in numbers upon our 

 • own shores, but they are taken not infrequently in dredging. 

 They are neither abundant enough nor easily enough obtained 

 to make it pay to take them for market. We cannot find 

 that they are ever sold by themselves in our towns. They 

 are a food of Cod and perhaps other fishes. 



21. Mactra solidi^siiua Chemnitz. 



Madra gigantea [of Willis]. 

 Sjnsula solidisnma Gray. 



Sea-clam, Giant-clam, Hen-clam, Beach-clam, Surf-clam. 



[Mactra, a kneading-trough; solidissima. very solid]. 



DiSTKiBUTiON. («) General; — Low-water mark to ten 

 tfathoms. Florida and Gulf of Mexico to Labrador. 



{h) In Acadia; — (in N. B.) Grand Manan, Stimpson. 

 .Bay of Fundy, low-water mark to ten fathoms, Verrill. 

 Passamaquoddy Bay, large and abundant, Ganong. Shediac, 

 iPoint du Chene, Whiteaves. (In N. S.) St. Mary's Bay, very 



