* 



218 NEW- YORK FAUNA MOLLUSC A. 



appellation of Seawan hackee, or the Isle of Shells. The natives of this island were com- 

 pelled to pay an annual tribute in wampum to those living on the mainland. 



This species does not appear to extend much farther north than Cape Ann, Massachusetts, 

 and I am not acquainted with its distribution south of Delaware bay. 



Venus notata. 



PLATE XXVII. FIG. 278. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Venus notata. Say, Joura. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol. 2, p. 2J 1. 

 V". id. Gould, Invertebrata of Mass. p. 86, fig. 67. 



Description. Shell orbicular, heart-shaped, smaller than the preceding, and less coarse and 

 solid. Surface shining, almost smooth, with the concentric ridges most prominent on the 

 beaks: posterior margin rounded, not produced. Sinus of the palleal impression not as deep : 

 the crenulations on the base submargined. 



Color. Whitish tinged with brown, with reddish zigzag marks ; anterior one purplish ; 

 within uniform yellowish white. 



Vertical axis, 1 • 7 ; transverse ditto, 1 ' 8. 



This species is considered by some writers as a mere local variety of the preceding, but to 

 me its characters appear sufficiently distinctive. It is occasionally found associated with 

 the V. mercenaria, but it is most abundant on the outer bars beyond the sea-beaches of Long 

 island, where the mercenaria is seldom found. It is usually smaller than the dimensions 

 given above. 



Venus gemma. 



PLATE XXVII. FIG. 277. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Venus gemma. Totten, Am. Jour. Sc. Vol. 26, p. 366, pi. — , fig. 2. Russel, Ess. Jour. Vol. 1, p. 58. 

 V. id. Gould, Invertebrata of Mass. p. 89, fig. 51. 



Description. Shell very small, oval, nearly equilateral, glossy, and with numerous minute 

 concentric furrows. Beaks small, almost central, incurved, separate, generally eroded : no 

 defined anterior area. Teeth divergent ; the middle one of each valve triangular, robust ; the 

 anterior tooth of the right, and the posterior tooth of the left valve, thin, and not easily dis- 

 tinguished. Inner margin crenulated : palleal impression with an acute-angled sinus. 



Color. Anterior portion and basal margin, both within and without, white ; the remaining 

 parts reddish purple or amethystine, darkest at the upper and posterior margins. 



Vertical axis, 0*1; transverse ditto, - 15. Diameter, 0-08. 



