Quarterly Joicrnal of Conchology. 89 



LIST OF THE MARINE SHELLS OF HASTINGS. 



By a. W. LANGDON. 



I have pleasure in sending the following list of sea shells from 

 this coast. It is doubtless very imperfect, but it comprises all the 

 species I have been able to hear of, since my attention was drawn 

 to the subject a few months ago. I hope to hear of additions 

 from time to time, and will not fail to communicate them. 



The shore, in front of the town, and some miles to the east 

 and west, is composed ot shingle, from the wasting of the South 

 Downs, with beds of sand and rock exposed at low tide. 



Owing to the prevalence of strong S.W. winds, the beach is 

 continually shifting, so that there is little opportunity for the growth 

 of Mollusca, other than mussels, limpets, and purple-shells, within 

 the reach of personal observation. But fortunately, for Naturalists, 

 there exists a shoal, locally termed the " Diamond," a few miles to 

 the S.E., which is much frequented by fishermen, and which yields 

 a great variety of Crustacea, with a fair sprinkling of mollusca. It 

 is from this source that most of the following species were obtained. 

 The winter and early spring is the time when the boats most 

 usually resort to the " Diamond," and then the shells may be pro- 

 cured from one or two local dealers, whose little " curiosity shops " 

 in the immediate neighbourhood of the Fish market, are probably 

 kno\\Ti to most visitors at Hastings. 



1. Anomiaephippium, L. — Occasionally brought in by fisher- 



men ; was formerly common. 



2. Ostrea edulis, L. — Very fine specimens of the solitary 



variety, from the Diamond ground. 



3. Pecten pusio, L. — A few detached valves have been picked 



up on the beach : it is tolerably common from the 

 scallop beds off Brighton. 



4. P. varius, Z. — Not uncommon, but seldom large or well 



coloured. 



5. P. opercularis. L. — Extremely abundant on the Diamond 



ground, and of every colour — white, violet, orange, 

 i&c. The local name is squin or squinia. It is eaten 

 by all classes^ 



