OF CONCHOLOGY. 



141 



Solen maximus, Wood, Index, &c., not Gmelm. 



Solecurtus Nuttallii, Conrad, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil, vii, 



p. 232, pi. xvii, f. 9, 1837. 

 Solen grandis, Cpr., as of Gmelin. 

 Siliqua californica, Conr., Am. Journ. Conch, iii, p. 193, 



1868. 



This shell I am inclined to consider distinct from S. lueida, 

 ■which bears to it the same relation that S. costata does to #. 

 squama, Blainv., upon our eastern coast. 



Why -Mr. Conrad should locate it at the Sandwich Islands is 

 incomprehensible ; both his types were from California. Dixon's 

 was from Cook's Inlet, and his figure is excellent. I can find no 

 Solen grandis in Gmelin 's ed. of the Syst. Naturae. The obli- 

 quity of the rib varies, as also the shape of the sinus. The 

 shell is nearly equally rounded at each end. S. californica, 

 Conrad, is merely a young specimen. The purple ray from the 

 beak is pretty constant ; I find it in all perfect specimens. The 

 epidermis of the old shells is dark brown ; that of the young, a 

 beautiful polished yellow green, with an olivaceous cast. 



Siliqua luclda, Conrad. 



Solecurtus lucidus, Conrad, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil, vii, 

 p 231, pi. xvii, f. 8, 1837. 



This shell is small and hyaline ; the rib shows through, and 

 there are three yellow rays behind it. The purple is in concen- 

 tric waves, interrupted by the rays, with the spaces between the 

 waves also yellow. The epidermis is very thin and hyaline. 

 The shell is truncated behind, and the sinus is shallower than in 

 S. patida. The rib is straight. 



Siliqua media, Gray. 



Solen medius, Gray, Beechey's Voy. p. 153, pi. xlvi, f. 2, 

 1839. 



Shell like S. costata, Say, but constantly higher and shorter, 

 with a broader, stronger rib, and much stouter, larger teeth. 

 Sinus more shallow. Exterior with stronger lines of growth, 

 less polished, and with a longer ligament. Color lurid purple, 

 suffused with white inside, a mixture of olive green, yellowish 

 and purple outside ; constantly darker than S. costata. Squarer 

 at the posterior end, with obsolete irregular lighter rays in some 

 specimens. Lon. 1*9, alt. 1*0, diam. -34 in. 



Habitat, Norton Sound, Alaska Territory. 



Mr. Conrad has applied the name borealis, in his catalogue of 



