Shells found in Essex County. 51 



SOLEN. Greek, a tube. 

 ENSIS. Latin, a sword. Scimitar shaped. 



The Sivord Solen or Sabre Solen. 



Linear, shaped like the scabbard of a sword, white within, 

 brownish or green without, of various lengths ; sometimes eight 

 inches long. An interesting species. Lynn beaches and com- 

 mon on the coast. Fine specimens at Plum Island, sometimes 

 called " Long Clam," on the South Shore. 



Brown's Zool. Text Book, pi. 91, fig. 11. do. Conchol. Text 

 Book, pi. 18, fig. 11. 

 Cabinet of the Society. 



, SOLENCURTUS. Blamville. Solen and curtus short. 



COSTATUS. Say. Latin, ribbed. 

 SYN. SOLEN COSTATUS. Say. Journ. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sc. 



vol. 2, p. 315. 



A delicate and very beautiful shell, very abundant on the 

 sandy shores of Essex County, especially at Lynn. Teeth, 

 three in each valve, a strong white rib passes from the beak to 

 the base, whence its specific name. Color, brownish without, 

 pearly violet within. 



Say's American Conchology, plate 18. 



GLYCIMERIS, Greek. 

 SILIQ.UA. Latin, pod-shaped. Pod Glycimeris. 



Shell thick, widely gaping at each extremity, covered with a 

 black epidermis, toothless and callous near the hinge. 



A shell of little beauty, living in deep water, and eaten by the 

 larger fish. A specimen with the animal, with several others of 

 valves only, taken from the stomach of a cod fish, were pre- 

 sented to the Cabinet of the Society, by Dr. W. P. .Richardson. 



Brown's Zool. Text Book, pi. xci, fig. 7. Do. Conchol. Text 

 Book, pi. 18, fig. 7. 



MYA. Greek, a muscle. 

 MERCENARIA. Latin, for sale. Merchantable. 



Common Clam. Soft Shell Clam. 



This shell fish, so well known as an article of food, and abun- 

 dant on our shores, is not wholly devoid of interest as a conchol- 



