100 THE NAUTILUS. 



most of the supply for this market coramg from Tomales Bay, and 

 are sold at moderate rates. 



The edible mussel, Mytilus edulis Linn., is also to be found in the 

 markets, though in small quantities, and apparently it is not in very 

 great demand. Most of the specimens are of the small, smooth, dark 

 purple variety, and average about two inches in length. They live 

 in the bay, and attach themselves in great numbers to the piling of 

 the wharves and similar stable objects to which they may fasten 

 their strong byssus of horny threads. Along the coast outside of the 

 bay, the larger mussel, 3Iytulus Californianus Conr., lives in great 

 numbers, attached to the shaggy rocks which border the ocean, and 

 sometimes grows to the length of eight or ten inches. This species 

 is also edible, and the orange colored flesh of hot mussels, roasted 

 in a fire of drift-wood, and seasoned with the sauce of sea-breeze 

 hunger, has a delicious flavor which is not soon forgotten. 



Occasionally you may find one or two other mollusks in the^ mar- 

 kets, but seldom. I have seen the large Curdmm corbis Mart., and 

 the Chinese eat the Squid, while the Frenchmen sometimes secures 

 on the sly a big Helix ; but these five species, two oysters, two clams 

 and a mussel, are all that are commonly exposed for sale. 



A NEW SPECIES OF LIMPET FROM JAPAN. 



BY H. A. PILSBEY. 



Patella (Helcioniscus) Stearnsii, N. 8p. 



This is a form of Patella resembling outside the P. exarata Nutt., 

 of the Sandwich Islands. It is the size of that species but usually 

 somewhat more elevated. Color blackish-brown, with rays of white 

 or greenish ; dull and lusterless. Outside sculptured with about 

 50-56 strong, more or less nodose riblets, separated by deeply cut 

 furrows. Interior bluish-white, but stained darker in places by the 

 color of the outside, showing through ; the area inside the muscle- 

 impression of a rich chestnut-hrown color. Around the margin are 

 alternate blotches of blackish-brown and Avhite, the blackish usually 

 predominating ; edge scalloped. The ribbing of the outside is not 

 nearly so plainly indicated in the interior as in P. exarata, and in 

 the space between the muscle-impression and the more vividly col- 

 ored marginal border, very fine, interrup)ted concentric xorinkles may 



