236 THE ICE AGE IN CANADA. 



Specimens from the Clyde beds are perfeotly identical with ours. 

 It is also found in the Post-pliocene of Norway and rarely in the Crag. 

 It is a northern species, meeting on the American coast the closely 

 allied forms A. undata and A. lens, into which, however, it does not 

 seem to pass. The two latter species, being more southern forms, arc 

 not found in the Pleistocene. A small form of A. crebricostata 

 ( = lens) is very abundant in 200 fathoms gulf St. Lawrence, J. F. W. 



A. Omalii of S. Wood from the Crag, is very near to this species, 

 but is at least a distinct variety. 



Astarte elliptica, Brown, has been shown by Sylvanus Hanley to be 

 the Venus compressa, Linn. Hence it is the true A. compressa. 

 J. F. W. 



I regard this as Astarte lactea Brod and Sby. ; and A. semisulcata, 

 Lgach, but as probably distinct, as Astartes go, from A. borealis, {= A. 

 arctica). (See Figure, Plate I.) 



Astarte arctica, MoUer, (var. lactea.) 



Fossil — Labrador (Packard); St. John (Matthew); Portland, Maine; 

 also Greenland (Moller). 



Recent — Gaspe ; Little Metis ; Riviere-du-Loup ; also Arctic seas ; 

 Norway (typical). 



This species has been found in the Pleistocene of Canada, only in 

 Labrador and New Brunswick ; and is rare in the gulf of St. 

 Lawrence. It is our largest Astarte and I believe it to be identical 

 with A. lactea, Brod. and Sow., and A. semisulcata. Gray. Fossil 

 specimens from Portland are precisely similar to recent ones from 

 Gaspe dredged by Mr. Whiteaves and referred by him to A. lactea. 

 But he regards A. borealis as probably distinct. Specimens from 

 Norway {A. arctica) and from Clyde beds {A. borealis) are smoother 

 and less ribbed than ours. British Columbia. (See Figure, Plate I.) 



Other species of Astarte. 



At Murray bay, there occurs very rarely a transversely elongated 

 and regularly striated Astarte with delicately wrinkled epidermis, 

 which seems to be identical with A. Eichar-dsonii from the Arctic seas 

 as described but not as figured by Reeve ; but A . Eichardsonii is 

 generally regarded as young A. lactea. A similar species or variety 

 occurs, but very rarely, fossil at Riviere-du-Loup. Matthew mentions 

 A. compressa from Pleistocene at St. John. A. sidcata (undata), 

 A. crebricostata (= A. lens), A. castanea, and A. quadrans have not 



