Shells found in Essex County. 67 



NATICA. Referring to its cockle or boat shape, 

 HEROS. Say. Latin, large. 



Saifs large Natica. 



A familiar and well known shell, sometimes called { 'cockle," and 

 abundant on the muddy shores of our estuaries, and not uncom- 

 mon on the beaches among kelp. Very little can be said in 

 favor of its appearance, being of a dirty bluish color exteriorly, 

 and within of a brownish hue, furnished with a large horny oper- 

 culum. Sometimes of great size. Burrows, under the mud 

 throwing it up, into little prominent heaps. One of those Mol- 

 lusca, which bore other shell fish to extract their food. 

 Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Phil., vol. ii., p. 243. 

 Society's Cabinet. 



NATICA. TRISERIATA. Latin. Three banded. 



Three zoned Natica. 



A smaller and very pretty species, with three more or less dis- 

 tinct interrupted bands of dark brown ; found near the City 

 Mills, among the Zostera, and on the shores oi the basin. Also 

 upon the beaches of the vicinity. 

 Cabinet of the Society. 



NATICA CONSOLIDATA. Couthouy. 



Thickened Natica. 



A new species, native and abundant in this vicinity, but only 

 taken from fish in deep water ; it has been hitherto overlooked. 

 About the size of the proceeding, more solid, of a dingy white ; 

 umbilicus nearly closed by the callus. Seems to be a common 

 and favorite food of the haddock. Many specimens were col- 

 lected for the Society by Dr. William P, Richardson, during the 

 summer of 1838. 



Boston Journ. Nat. Hist., vol. ii., p. 89, pi. iii, fig. 14. ' 

 Cabinet of Society. 

 i 



MELAMPUS Monif. 

 BIDENTATUS. Latin. Two toothed* 



Two toothed Melampus. 



Shell thin, delicate, of a dingy brown, almost egg-shaped, 

 aperture long, narrow, two prominent teeth on the labium ; 



