SYNONYMA. 



Pecten magellanicus. Lam. An. sans Vert. vol. 

 (o,part l,p. 165. 



OSTREA MAGELLANICA. Gmelin. 



Dillwyn's Recent Shells, p. 250. 

 Icon. Enc. Method, pi. 20s/jig. 5. 



Cabinet of the Acad. Nat. Sciences, No. 1156. * 



OBSERVATIONS, 



This fine shell is frequently six inches in length, 

 and is one of the largest of the genus. The superior 

 valve is occasionally marked with pale rays, and al- 

 ways with concentric bands, which are either of a 

 lighter or darker tint than the general colour of the 

 valve, the margin of which'is ochraceous. 



This species constantly inhabits deep water and 

 abounds in Passamaquoddy Bay, where it is dredged 

 up for the table, as the animal is edible, and much 

 esteemed in the vicinity of its location. Dr. C. Pick- 

 ering found two valves on the coast of Massachussetts. 



That this is the shell which authors suppose to 

 inhabit the Straits of Magellan, whence is derived 

 the name of Magellanicus, I have no doubt, and if 

 its name be not misapplied, it is a singular circum- 

 stance that it should inhabit seas so remote from each 

 other, and yet be unknown on any intermediate part 

 of the vast and continuous coast of America. Its 

 presence, however, could not readily be detected^, 

 as dead shells are rarely cast upon the beach, even 

 in the vicinity in which the species is common. 



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