118 CYPRINIDiE. 



Found abundantly in Provincetown Harbor, west and nortb of the 

 ligbt-liouse, at low-water mark. [Forbes asserts that AstarLe is 

 never a littoral shell.] Occasionally, specimens are picked up on 

 Chelsea Beach ; Nahant Beach, after storms {Haskell) ; Vineyard 

 Sound, eight to twelve fathoms QDcsor) ; dredged in Boston Har- 

 bor {SfiDipson) ; Halifax Harbor and Sable Island {Willis). It is 

 more abundant along the coast of the Middle States. 



The foi)t of the animal is of a bright vermilion color, and when 

 seen j)rotruded, one would hardly persuade himself that a red wafer 

 was not eml)raced l)y the valves. 



This shell a[)pears to be a well-characterized species, quite dis- 

 tinct from any species inhabiting the British coast. The species 

 most nearly allied to it is Venus {Astarte) conipressa, of JVIontagu. 



Its remarkable points are, its height being usually greater than 

 its length, its prominent central bealcs curved so as to give the shell 

 a somewhat kidney-shaped ai)pearance, the broad, excavated lunule 

 before them, and the smooth, chestnut-colored surface. The black- 

 ening of the posterior region of the shell is very peculiar. Some 

 specimens look as if this })ortion had been dipped in tar. 



The varieties in form and coloring are very numerous ; one or 

 two of which may be designated. 



Yar. A. picea is large and solid, surface wdth a few wrinkles 

 without waves, and the epidermis of a dark tar-color. All the speci- 

 mens I have found upon Chelsea Beach are of this variety. In speci- 

 mens found about Sandy Hook, New York Harl)or, the epidermis 

 partakes of this dark appearance, about the color of Mr. Say's fig- 

 ure in the "American Conchology," though the surface is undu- 

 lated. Hence I infer that the oceanic specimens are of the dark 

 variety, while those which lie in quiet, sandy localities, like Prov- 

 incetown Harbor, have rather a l)rownish-yellow color. In propor- 

 tions it agrees with the type specimens. 



Yar. A. prorera, inhaliits Provincetown Harbor, and is fully de- 

 scril)cd and figured by Colonel Totten in " Silliman's Journal," as 

 a probalde variety of A. castanea, but as possibly a distinct species. 

 Its variation consists in its very light-colored epidermis, and the great 

 elevation of its l)eaks. The color of all the shells in that harbor is 

 remarkal)ly light, as is noted of Mactra solidissima and Mf/a arena- 

 ria, so that in regard to its color it is merely a local distinction. 

 The elevation of some of the specimens is remarkable ; but these 

 are found living intermingled with those of the normal form, and 

 of every intervening degree of elevation. The shell in all its varic- 



