MYA GAPER. 151 



their thick, solid, and substantial shells, and 

 have in consequence been formed into a distinct 

 genus, called IJnio. Many of the mollusks 

 of this genus burrow in the sand or mud, boring 

 a channel through which they thrust a con- 

 tractile trunk inclosing two tubes. The Myae 

 furnish food not only for man, but also for many 

 aquatic birds. 



MYA Truncata* 



TRUNCATED GAPER. 



Specific Character. Shell ovate, convex, 

 truncated at the anterior end, where it gapes 

 considerably, curved at the areola, wrinkled 

 transversely, and covered with a brownish yellow 

 tough epidermis, extending an inch or two 

 beyond the gaping end, like a thick membrane, 

 through which the animal protrudes its tube ; 

 hinge with a rounded tooth projecting forwards; 

 inside white ; length from one to two inches ; 

 breadth from two to three. 



These shells inhabit the sand or gravel about 

 low water mark on most of the northern coasts 

 of Europe. In Greenland, their mollusks are the 

 food of man and different animals. When taken 

 alive, the epidermis of the shell is found joined 

 to the tube or proboscis of the animal, having 



* Plate VII. fig. 3. 



