The Semeles 



Gray, the veteran collector for the Marine Biological Laboratory, 

 who knows the sea bottom of that region, and the inhabitants 

 thereof, as a cook knows her pantry shelves. 



It was August, and the ventricose shells of the female were 

 tinted pink by the mass of eggs under the transparent valves. 

 In a dish of clear sea water the two siphons were soon thrust out 

 at the pointed end of the shell. The broad foot steadied the 

 valves on edge, while the siphons waved aimlessly up and down. 

 They are like transparent, pink tubes, no larger when extended 

 than a coarse thread. The upper, excurrent tube was two inches 

 long when fully extended. The other was one-fourth as long. 

 Eggs were discharged in a stream by the females. These were 

 delicate, pink spherules, just visible to the unaided eye. Some 

 shells were warped by growing in rock fissures. Length, ^ inch. 



C. Californica, Conr., twice as large, with ridged growth 

 lines, represents the genus on the coast of Southern California. 



Genus CERONIA, Gray 



Shell ovate wedge-shaped, truncated behind. 



C. Arctica, Conr., has thick, strong, smooth, sub-trian- 

 gular valves, white under a yellow epidermis. The hinge has a 

 V-shaped primary tooth with a long, striated lateral tooth on each 

 side of it. Length, i J inches. 



Habitat. — New York Bay northward. 



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