MY A. 



69 



Fig. 376. 



Mya Iruncata- 



arcriaria, l)ut the ohlirjuc rib merely forms a thickened lobe at the 

 edge, and does not i)r()jcct into a tooth-like process ; on the op- 

 posite valve is an exca- 

 vation in the beak for the 

 reception of the tooth, 

 and insertion of the lip;- 

 anient. Length, two and 

 three qnarters inches ; 

 height, one and seven 

 tentlis inches; l)readtli, 

 one and one fifth inches. 

 The animal is oval, 

 with very long sii)hons 

 nnitcd to their fringed 

 tips, and covered with a 



wrinkled, l)r()wn epidermis; mantle closed, except for the passage 

 of a small slender foot with a byssal groove. 



Single valves of this shell are thrown npon onr beaches by vio- 

 lent gales ; bnt I have never heard of any living specimen being 

 taken directly on onr coast. At George's and Grand Banks, how- 

 ever, it is alamdant, and is a favorite food of the codfish, from 

 whose stomachs it is taken plentifully liy our fishermen. On the 

 English coast it is spoken of as more plentiful than M, arcnaria, 

 found at the mouths of rivers. It is not mentioned as an article 

 of food. Eastport, at low water, and southward to Cape Cod 

 (Stimpsoti); Bedford Basin, Halitax (Wi//is); Greenland (Mol- 

 ler) ; Port Foulke {Ha//es coll.) ; var. Uddcvalensis, abundant, 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence {Bell). Fossil at Montreal, Beauport, Port- 

 land, and elsewhere. 



It is very easily recognized by the ])eculiar manner in whicli the 

 posterior end seems to be chopi)ed off; sometimes directly across, 

 and sometimes obliquely ; sometimes leaving the posterior portion 

 of aljout the same length as the anterior ; and at other times not 

 half as long. Its meml)ranou8 tube, when not broken off l)y the 

 removal of the animal, as it usually is, is quite a curiosity. There 

 is one shell whicli at first sight resembles it, the Panopcea arctica; 

 but it is gaping at both ends, and has no tooth. 



