64 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [358] 
sold in the markets, that they might readily be mistaken for another 
species. 
The “ sea-clam” or “surf-clam,” Mactra solidissima, (Plate XX VIII, 
fig. 202,)is a large species which belongs properly to the sandy shores, and 
is seldom found elsewhere. It is common both in the sounds and on the 
outer ocean-beaches, but is not very often found above low-water of or- 
dinary tides unless thrown up by the waves. Its proper home is on 
sandy bottoms in shallow water, just beyond low-water mark and down 
to the depth of four or five fathoms. It occurs all along our coast, 
wherever there are sandy shores, from North Carolina to Labrador. Its 
shells are extremely abundant and of very large size on the outer sand- 
beaches of New Jersey and the southern side of Long Island. This 
species grows very large, some of the shells being more than six inches 
long and four or five broad; and there is great variation in the form of 
the shell, some being oval, others more oblong or elliptical, and others 
nearly triangular; some are very swollen, others quite compressed ; but 
all the intermediate grades occur. The siphon-tubes are quite short and 
the creature does not usually burrow very deeply, nor does it seem to 
construct any permanent burrows. But it has a very large muscular, 
compressed foot, with which it can quickly burrow beneath the surface 
of the sand. Nevertheless large numbers are always thrown on the 
beaches by violent storms, and once there they are very soon devoured 
by crows, gulls, and other large birds that frequent the shores. This 
species is not very largely used as food, and is seldom seen in our mar- 
kets; partly because it cannot usually be so easily obtained in large 
quantities as the common “ long clam” and “round clam,” and partly 
because it is generally inferior to those species as an article of food, for 
the meat is usually tougher, especially in the largest specimens. But 
moderate-sized and young “ surf-clams” are by no means ill-flavored or 
tough, and are quite equal in quality to any of the other clams, either 
“long” or “round,” that are ordinarily sold in the markets. 
The Siliqua costata, (Plate XXXII, fig. 244,) Lyonsia hyalina, (Plate 
XXVII, fig. 194,) and Levicardium Mortoni, (Plate X XIX, fig. 208,) are 
usually to be found on sandy shores and beaches, often in considerable 
numbers, but they do not naturally live above low-water mark, and, 
when found higher up, have probably been carried there by the action 
of the waves. Their proper homes are on sandy bottoms, in shallow 
water oif shore. They are all rapidly burrowing species, and can live, 
for a time at least, in the loose sand above low-water mark. 
The Angulus tener (Plate X XVI, fig. 180, animal, and Plate XXX, fig. 
225, shell) is a species that is partial to sandy bottoms and sandy 
shores, though it is also often found in soft mud. It frequently occurs 
living at low-water mark, but is more abundant in deeper water. It is 
a rapid burrower, and has remarkably long, slender, white siphons, 
which are entirely separate, from the base, and very flexible. On account 
of the length of these tubes it can remain buried to a considerable 
