98 THE NAUTILUS. 



A COLLECTING TEIP AT NOKTHPORT, N. Y. 



BY WM. H. WEEKS, JR. 



It was my good fortune to have a vacation during the month of 

 October, and I decided to go to Northport, in search of shells. 

 Norlhport is situated on a fine harbor on the north shore of Long 

 Island, some forty miles from New York City. The conchologist 

 here has a fine field before him for work, and if not easily discour- 

 aged, shore-collecting will yield good results. It usually means 

 however long tramps each day of some five to ten miles. I expected 

 to use the dredge but could not make satisfactory arrangements. It 

 is here that the scallop (Pecten borealis) abounds, but this year only 

 small quantities have been brought in by fishermen, and the much- 

 prized red variety is decidedly scarce. 



Where I had found some five years ago countless numbers of 

 Crepidula convexa on the beach not a specimen was to be seen, but 

 a few were gathered at low tide from dead specimens of Litorina 

 Uttorea and Nassa obsoleta. Mya arenaria were everywhere on the 

 beach in fine order, and also many Ensis directus. Usually one has 

 to dig for them. Lcevicardium mortoni were found in small colonies 

 and seemed to be larger than usual. Numerous odd valves of 

 Astarte undulata were taken at low tide. It is evidently a deep- 

 water species. No search was made for land shells. The following 

 is a list of species obtained : 



Ostrea virginica Gmel., cultivated extensively. 



Anomia simplex Orb., abundant. 



Pecten gibbus var. borealis Say, fairly common. 



Mytilus edulis Linn., abundant. 



Modiolus modiolus Linr., scarce. 



Modiolus demissa var. plicatula Lam., abundant. 



Area transversa Say, abundant. 



Area pexata Say, abundant. 



Astarte undata Gld., odd valves. 



Laevicardium mortoni Conr., fairly common. 



Venus mercenaria L., abundant. 



Petricola pholadiformis Lam., fairly common. 



Tellina tenera Say, one specimen. 



Macoma balthica Linn., scarce. 



