The Venus Clams and Carpet Shells 



are found on sandy bottoms of bays, or off exposed coasts. These 

 are taken by rakes or by tongs such as oystermen use. The clam- 

 mer goes out in a boat for them. 



"Treading clams" is a method used in warm waters of the 

 southern shores, where the gigantic variety, Mortoni, reaches 

 six inches in diameter, and a weight of five pounds. The bare 

 feet of the wading man range under the surface of the sandy mud, 

 and rout out the individual clams one at a time. 



The young clams of the typical species are almost as ten- 

 der and fine flavoured as oysters. Adult specimens are tougher. 

 Var. Mortoni is tough and coarse and too strong in flavour to 

 be a popular shell fish except to people who have known no 

 better clams. They are used extensively for chowders on the 

 Florida coast. 



The northern hard-shell reaches three inches in length and 

 a width of two and a half inches. It ranges from Nova Scotia 

 to the West indies. The season lasts from April to September, 

 coinciding with the oyster's closed season. Clams live a long 

 time out of water, if kept cool, and are shipped in quantities in 

 the shell to mid-continental cities. 



V. Kennicottii, Dall, a lamellate clam resembling the 

 quahog in size and form, is rarely found off the California coast 

 and northward. 



Sub-genus CHIONE, Megerle 



The Cross-barred Venus {V.cancellaia,'\Jir\n.)\sor\toit\\e 

 very abundant bivalves on the west coast of Florida. Narrow 

 elevated ridges cross on the surface of the valves, which range 

 in colour from white to cloudy yellow and brown. The white 

 lining is tinged with violet. Length, i to i finches. 



Habitat. — Cape Hatteras to West Florida. 



Chione includes also two or three compact little cross-barred 

 clams on the west coast. 



Genus CYTHEREA, Lam. 



Shell ovate, smooth, thick; hinge with three cardinal teeth; 

 siphons united half-way. 



The Japanese Cytherea (C petechialis, Lam.) is handsomely 

 painted with brown chevrons and obscurely rayed on the neutral, 



348 



