118 CYPRINID.E. 



Found abundantly in Provincetown Harbor, west and north of the 

 light-house, at low-water mark. [Forbes asserts that Astarte is 

 never a littoral shell.] Occasionally, specimens are picked up on 

 Chelsea Beach ; Nahant Beach, after storms {Haskell) ; Vineyard 

 Sound, eight to twelve fathoms {Dcsor) ; dredged in Boston Har- 

 bor {SliDipson) ; Halifax Harbor and Sable Island {Willis}. It is 

 more abundant along the coast of the Middle States. 



The foot of the animal is of a Ijright vermilion color, and when 

 seen protruded, one would hardly persuade himself that a red wafer 

 was not embraced by the valves. 



This shell appears to be a well-L-haracterized species, quite dis- 

 tinct from any species inhabiting the British coast. The species 

 most nearly allied to it is Venus (Astarte) coinpressa, of Montagu. 



Its remarkable points are, its height being usually greater than 

 its length, its i)rominent central beaks curved so as to give the shell 

 a somewhat kidney-shaped appearance, the broad, excavated lunule 

 before them, and the smooth, chestnut-colored surface. The black- 

 ening of the })osterior region of the shell is very peculiar. Some 

 specimens look as if this portion had been di])])cd in tar. 



The varieties in form and coloring are very numerous ; one or 

 two of which may Ijc designated. 



Var. A. picea is large and solid, surface with a few wrinkles 

 without waves, and the epidermis of a dark tar-color. All the speci- 

 mens I have found upon Chelsea Beach are of this variety. In speci- 

 mens found about Sandy Hook, New York Harljor, the epidermis 

 partakes of this dark appearance, about the color of Mr. Say's fig- 

 ure in the "American Conchology," though the surface is undu- 

 lated. Hence I infer that the oceanic specimens are of the dark 

 variety, while those which lie in quiet, sandy localities, like Prov- 

 incetown Harbor, have rather a brownish-yellow color. In propor- 

 tions it agrees with the type specimens. 



Var. A. procera., inhaliits Provincetown Harbor, and is fully de- 

 scribed and figured by Colonel Totten in " Sdliman's Journal," as 

 a probable variety of A. castanea, but as possibly a distinct species. 

 Its variation consists in its very light-colored epidermis, and the great 

 elevation of its beaks. The color of all the sliells in that harbor is 

 remarkably light, as is noted of Mactra soUdissima and Mjja arena- 

 ria, so that in regard to its color it is merely a local distinction. 

 The elevation of some of the specimens is remarkable ; l)ut these 

 are found living intermingled with those of the normal form, and 

 of every intervening degree of elevation. The shell in all its varie- 



