APPENDIX III 455 



in from ten to fifty fathoms. The Greenland cockle (Serripes 

 gronlandicus) is about three inches in length, nearly smooth, 

 with only a few obsolete ribs on the ends ; the young is thin, and 

 beautifully mottled with reddish purple. The hairy heart-shell 

 (Cardium ciliatum) is about two inches in length, with about 

 thirty-six acute radiating ribs on each valve. The shell is covered 

 with a yellowish epidermis, forming rows of stiff bristles on the 

 edge of the ribs. The common cockle of Europe (Cardium edule) 

 is largely used for food. It is probable that both of these are also 

 edible. Perhaps the most common shell of the coast is Macoma 

 calcarea, quantities being brought up with each dredge. When on 

 a muddy or sandy bottom, the thin epidermis is usually eroded, 

 giving the shell a chalky appearance. Another characteristic 

 bivalve of the more northern waters is the little brown clam, 

 Astarte, of which four or five species are to be found along the 

 Labrador coast. They are about an inch to an inch and a quarter 

 in length, somewhat triangular in form, thick, with prominent 

 concentric ridges, and a dark brown epidermis. Related to Astarte 

 is Venericardia borealis, which has radiating, instead of concentric, 

 ridges. 



Other bivalves which are constantly being caught in the dredge 

 are the little, round, glossy brown Nucula tennis, the polished 

 greenish brown Yoldia myalis, and the pointed Leda pernula with 

 a greenish epidermis and fine concentric lines. This group can be 

 readily recognized by having numerous minute teeth along the hinge. 

 There are a number of other bivalves which are occasionally 

 brought up by the dredge, including a group with thin, pearly shells, 

 represented by Thracia myopsis, Pandora glacialis, and Lyonsia 

 arenosa. 



Some of the rivers and streams of the interior contain the fresh- 

 water clam, or pearl mussel (Margaritana margaritifera) , a species 

 which is also found in northern Europe and Asia. It sometimes 

 yields very handsome pearls, and I have seen a few beautiful ones, 

 which were said to have come from Labrador. 



The Gastropoda, or the univalves, as they are often popularly 

 called, slightly exceed the bivalves in the number of species. 

 They seem, however, to be less abundant individually, especially 

 the larger ones. The most prominent of the larger forms belong 

 to the family Buccinidse, or whelks. The common whelk (Buc- 

 cinum undatum) is found along the entire coast. In northern 

 Europe, where this species is abundant, it forms an extensive 

 article of food. They make an excellent soup; or boiled, until 

 they can be easily removed from the shell, they can be either 

 fried in fat until brown, or eaten with pepper and vinegar. There 

 are six or seven other species of whelks on the Labrador coast, 



