n 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



to the edge of the shell. Internally, there is a central 

 hinge-tooth, and also strong lateral ones, somewhat 

 removed to the right and left. The pallial line is 

 simple, for these creatures do not burrow. They 

 have a long and strong foot, however, by means of 

 which they can move rather freely, or even anchor 

 themselves, if such an operation is necessary. 



Figure 47 gives a good 

 end view of Cardium cor- 

 bis, Martyn, the Basket 

 Cockle. This is the most 

 common species on the 

 west coast, occurring as 

 far south as San Diego. 

 But the true home of this 

 species is in the cold 

 water of the north. At 

 Fort Wrangel in Alaska, 

 I once collected very fine 



Fig. 47 



mornmg 



specunens, one 

 when the tide was low, some of which were as much 

 as four inches across. I shall never forget that 

 strange scene. The little village by the seaside, the 

 dark forests in the background, the rocks laid bare 

 by the retreating waters, the olive-green seaweeds 

 with here and there the big white cockles lying 

 upon them. On shore was a mixture of the new and 

 the old; modern houses and ancient totem poles, 

 white men and native Indians, and all lighted up 

 by the early sun on that first day of June. 



The shell of this cockle, and in fact of most 

 cockles, is rather brittle, being of an earthen tex- 



