31 



the other or tootlilefs valve, by the connecling cartilage. 

 Infide white, glofTy. This fpecies is a gaper, the fmaller 

 end is incapable of clofing, and refletls outw^ards, par- 

 ticularly in that valve which has the tooth. 



It may be rather confidered as a local, but not a fcarce 

 {hell. Da Costa mentions having received it from Kent, 

 and the IJle of Wight. We have received it alfo from Kent 

 and from Portfinouth, and have feen it in great abundance 

 in the gravelly parts of the fliores of Southampton river, 

 at low water, buried at the depth of fix or feven inches, 

 with the gaping end upwards; and fo ftrongly wedged 

 in by the fhingle, that it is difficult to get them up with- 

 out a pointed iron inftrument. 



In this fituation the fliells are always very rugged, but 

 thofe which are found in fand are more fmooth and resru- 

 larly grown, and covered with a brown epidermis, which 

 being removed the fnell is white : thole of a rufty or 

 bUickiih colour are only ftained by the mud or ochreace- 

 ous clay. The fifiiermen about Southampton call them 

 old-maids, and fometimes coileft them for food. They 

 are difcovered by a fmall hole on the furface, through 

 which they eje6i a quantity of water if preffed. The 

 common fize is about three inches wide; fometimes 

 though rarely above four; and two inches and a half 



long from hinge to margin. 



Mya 



