SECTION IT. 
LAMELLIBRANCHIATA OF THE MIOCENE MARLS OF NEW JERSEY. 
ASIPHONIDA. 
MONOMYARIA. 
Family OSTREID2. 
Genus OSTREA Linnzeus. 
OSTREA VIRGINIANA. 
Plate 11, Figs. 1-7. 
Ostrea Virginiana (Gmel.) and of authors. 
Ostrea Mauricensis Gabb: Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., vol. 4, 2d ser., p. 376, PI. 
Lxvu, Fig. 26. Meek in Check List Mioc. Foss., p. 3. C. A. White. 
Besides the narrowly elongated wedge-form variety of the oyster, the 
ordinary form of it occurs under many variations. I have figured 
several specimens showing some of these variations, and I see no reason 
for considering the small flat upper valve figured by Mr. Gabb under the 
name O. Mauricensis as anything more than a specimen of this very vari- 
able species. One of those which I have figured from the collection of 
the Academy of Natural Sciences is fully 8 inches in length, even in its 
imperfect condition, and I think must have been when entire fully 1 inch 
longer. Among almost any lot of oysters seen in our markets, one may 
select all the forms which are found in the marls near Shiloh, or at Elwell’s 
pits, near Jericho, N. J., except the narrow wedge-form variety. This one 
I do not xecollect having noticed in the markets, although it is found living 
commonly along the coast of New Jersey. I presume its small size, or 
perhaps its isolated habits, may have prevented its use in this manner. The 
id 
27 
