134 VENERID.E. 



nearly smooth. There are also niiimtc lines, radiating- from the 

 beaks to the margin, most conspicnons on the beaks, where they 

 form a lattice-work with the concentric lines ; color a dirty white, 

 except the smooth portion of the disk, which is dark violet ; within 

 })nre white ; mnscnlar impressions deep, united l)y a well-marked 

 pallial impression, which has an acute angled, not very deep sinus ; 

 the margin outside the im])ressions is more or less of a beautiful 

 deep violet hue ; basal and anterior margin crenulated. Length, 

 three inches ; height, two and a half inches ; breadth, two inches. 



Brought from Wellfieet and other towns on Cape Cod in consider- 

 able quantities to Boston market. It is found more abundantly at the 

 South, and in New York and Philadeli)hia markets supersedes the 

 use of the Mija arenaria almost entirely, while it may be found in 

 greater or less abundance in all the region of Cape Cod, and scantily 

 in all parts of Massachusetts Bay. Coast of Maine, far to the east- 

 ward of Portland {Mighels') ; Halifax, Sable Island, Prince Edward's 

 Island, Fishing Banks (Willis) ; Gulf of St. Lawrence {Log-mi). 



The shell is easily known by its size and weight, and by its heart- 

 shaped form when resting upon its jjoint. It is al)0ut the same size 

 as Cyprina Ishindica, from which it is distinguished l)y the sharp 

 ridges on its surface, and l)y the want of an epidermis; also l)y the 

 violet-colored border of the iuterior of the valves. This mark, how- 

 ever, is not constant. In young shells it is wanting, and also in 

 very old shells the color is often obscured by a thick white glazing. 

 Fishermen say that those found outside Cape Cod, in the region of 

 Chatham, are always devoid of it. The shell has become quite fa- 

 mous from the fact that, from its purple edge, the aborigines manu- 

 factured their purple wam])um ; while the white wampum was made 

 of various species of shells, but chiefly from the axis of P/jrula. 



It is known in Massachusetts under the name of QNahog-.* It is 

 the clam of New York and Philadelphia. The u])per outline of the 

 figure (in the first edition) represents this shell. 



* The followiiiL;- items relative to the derivation of this word, and the connection of this 

 shell with ahoriyinal history, may be appropriately presented : — 



" A piece of Poqnahanges, a rare shell, and a dainty food with the Indians. The flesh 

 eats like veal ; the English nnike pyes thereof; and of the shells the Indians make money. 



" Yonng Po(|uahanges, Pccfiincitliisfasciatas. 



" It is called Wampanipecge." — Governor Winthrop's Cariosities from New England, 

 Journal of the Royal Society, June 27, 16.34. 



"Called by some English hens-poquahock ; three arc cqnal to a penny; a fixthom is 

 worth five shillings." — Roijer Williams. 



" The qnahang ( Venus merceiiaria), called by Roger Williams the poqunu and the lien, is 



