108 THK ECONOMIC MOLLUSC A OF ACADIA. 



Chedabucto Bay and all around Cape Breton, abundant and' 

 very destructive. Also around entire coast of Nova Scotia, but 

 much less abundant and not troublesome, Martin Murphy, 



[As the species of Teredo inhabiting our waters have not 

 been well worked out, it is quite probable that there exists at 

 the localities named above other species in addition to T. 

 navalis. Indeed, Mr. Murphy, in the second of the papers 

 quoted below, expressly states that either T. navalis or T. 

 Norvagica exist all around the coast of Nova Scotia. It is 

 greatly to be desired that a thorough study of our species 

 should be made, and all are earnestly requested to assist in 

 this work. Specimens from our waters, either of the animals- 

 preserved in alcohol, or of the wood contaming their burrows- 

 and shells, would be of great value. They should be sent 

 either to Mr. J. F. Whiteaves, of the Dominion Geological 

 Survey, or to the writer. 



Teredo navalis prefers water warmer than that of the Bay 

 of Fundy and the Atlantic coast; and hence we find it, though, 

 present, not at all troublesome in these waters. Its range,, 

 where destructive, on the other hand, is nearly coincident with 

 that of the southern fauna of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 

 Mr. Murphy, in his admirable paper on the Teredo in Nova 

 Scotia, cited below, misses the explanation of this fact. It 

 is not because these waters are ice-bound in winter that it 

 exists there, but because their warmer summer temperature 

 affords more favorable conditions for the development of its 

 young.] 



Habits. It is difficult to distinguish between the different species- 

 of Teredo, of whicli more tlian twenty are known, but the group Or 

 genus, as a whole, is easily recognizable. AVhile differing somewhat in 

 detail, their habits and structure are in general similar, and a description 

 of one will answer with but few modifications for all. 



Teredo navalis is the best known of all of the species on account of 

 its great damage to fixed and floating timber works in Europe, par- 

 ticularly the dykes and docks of Holland. It is by no means certain 

 that it is the most common species in Acadia, but beyond all question it 

 does occur on the Gulf of St. Lawrence coast. 



In external appearance, the animal fully justifies its common name. 

 But it is a true Mollusc, and a bivalve like the Clam. Though elongated 

 and cylindrical, it shows no trace of constrictions. The anterior end,- 



