82 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



Fig. 56 



Figure 56 represents 

 one of the commonest 

 shells to be found on the 

 western coast. It has re- 

 ceived quite a variety of 

 names, but it is now 

 classed as PapJiia stami- 

 nea^ Conr., the Ribbed 

 Carpet-shell. It is one 

 of the few mollusks sold freely in the San Fran- 

 cisco markets, where it is known as the Hard-shelled 

 Clam. In color it varies from pure white to deep 

 chocolate, and some of the varieties are prettily 

 marked with chestnut chevrons. While it occurs all 

 along the coast, it is most abundant to the north of 

 San Francisco. The name Paphia relates to the city 

 of Paphos, one of the haunts of the goddess Venus, 

 for whom so many shells are named. Among the 

 numerous varieties of this shell, we mention var. 

 petiti^ Desh., the large, unmarked kind found north 

 of the Columbia river; var. laciniata^ Cpr., a south- 

 ern form with beautiful network covering, and many 

 small prickles; var. ruderata, Desh., which has dis- 

 tinct, concentric ridges, sometimes larger than the 

 ribs; var. orbella^ Cpr., which includes swollen and 

 irregular specimens, living in holes in the rocks, 

 where they are confined and cramped, while most 

 members of the species live in coarse gravel and 

 grow to regular shapes. 



Paphia tenerri?na^ Cpr., the Finest Carpet-shell, is 

 a rather rare species, very distinct, and very pleasing 

 in appearance. An inside view of a left-hand valve 



