THE NAUTILUS. 99 



The second mollusk on our list is also an oyster, but it is a very 

 little one, the Ostrea lurida Cpr., or, as it is commonly called, the 

 native or Oregon oyster. It lives in various places along the west- 

 ern coast, but is most abundant in the vicinity of Puget Sound. 

 The shell is thin, and is seldom more than two inches in length. 

 This oyster is very palatable, however, what there is of it, which is 

 not much, and a sufficient number of them make an excellent stew. 

 They are sold for about iifty cents a hundred, but the trade is lim- 

 ited. 



The third species is a common creature, cheap enough for com- 

 mon 2:)eople to use freely. Unlike the aristocratic oyster, it came to 

 us unbidden ; and more unlike still, it thrives and propagates and 

 multiplies exceedingly. It is the Mya arenaria Linn., the real .soft- 

 shelled clam of Rhode Island, and " all along shore." Unknown in 

 San Francisco Bay before 1874, it suddenly appeared, and in a few 

 years the mud-fiats around Oakland and Alameda became one of its 

 most favorite breeding places, and the smooth surface at low tide 

 resembles the top of a pepper box. This mollusk quickly grows to 

 a large size and while lacking the delicious flavor of the oyster, it 

 makes a very acceptable chowder. Gi'eat numbers of these clams are 

 dug at low tide by the Chinese, and are retailed by them for a very 

 moderate price. The Jlya certainly holds the second place in re- 

 spect to importance, and even disputes with the oyster for the first 

 honors. 



The j)uzzle of its sudden and recent advent can probably be solved 

 by remembering what has been written about the oystei-s. It is 

 likely that a few humble clams came in- the oyster barrels as stowa- 

 ways, unthought of and unknown ; but lo, they made good speed to 

 fill the bay with their descendants, while the infant oyster pines and 

 dies for warmer water. 



The " Hard-shelled Clam," Tapes staminea Conr., holds the fourth 

 place among the merchantable mollusks of our coast. This is a var- 

 iable species, some of the varieties growing to the size of a large 

 hen's egg ; but mo.st of the specimens found in the markets are 

 smaller. The shell is thick and strong, oval in form, and is orna- 

 mented with numerous fine ribs which radiate from the umbones. 

 Its color is white or light gray, dashed with more or less stripes or 

 chevrons of brownish purple. This mollusk loves the seacoast, and 

 makes its burx'ows in gravelly or stony bottoms, instead of affecting 

 muddy flats like the Mya. They are gathered somewhat sparingly. 



