88 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



and stump)^, cut nearly short off at one end, and 

 tapering to a rounded point at the other. The edges 

 are finely crenulated. In color the shells vary from 

 white to purple, and are often beautifully striped. 

 This species is sometimes used for food, in spite of 

 its small size. 



Donax califomica^ Conr., the California Wedge- 

 shell, is quite distinct from the last species, and is 

 easily distinguished by the fact that the shells are 

 much thinner and lighter. The posterior end is 

 much more prolonged, bringing the beaks much 

 nearer the middle of the shell. It is less highly col- 

 ored than the last. There has been considerable con- 

 fusion about the names of these species, but the pres- 

 ent arrangement is believed to be correct. This spe- 

 cies included Hanley's Donax navicula. 



Heterodonax bimaculatus, d'Orb., the Spotted 

 Heterodonax, differs greatly from the true Wedge- 

 shell. It is oval in shape, rather fiat, thin, and 

 marked with fine, concentric lines. Its colors are 

 very diverse, white and purple being the prevailing 

 tints. This southern shell is usually less than an 

 inch in length. 



In Figure 

 64 we have a 

 good repre- 

 sentation of 

 ^agelus call- 

 fornianus, Conr., the Short Razor-clam. These crea- 

 tures live in sandy mud in a perpendicular burrow. 

 They have thin, gray shells, partly covered with a 

 dull epidermis. It is a southern species, and the com- 



Fig. 64 



