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The Nautilus. 



Vol. VI. JULY, 1892. No. 3. 



SOME REMARKS ON NEW JERSEY COAST SHELLS. 



BY JOHN FORD.^ 



Of the thousands of visitors to Atlantic City, Cape May and 

 adjacent seaside towns, perhaps not one-tenth part give a thought to 

 the myriads of living creatures other than human that sport in the 

 surf, dally in the pools or hide in the sheltering sands. Yet it is 

 not unlikely that the most superficial examination of these lowly 

 forms would convince the observer that even seaside resorts may 

 yield nobler pleasures than those of a physical nature only. 



How many of these persons, I wonder, know that the despised 

 Sea Nettles (Medusse) often exhibit forms of surpassing beauty, 

 rivaling in structure the most delicate of laces ! And who of all 

 the vast crowd think it worth while to note the wonderful variations 

 in structure of the many species of crabs, shrimp, saadhoppers and 

 other crustaceans dwelling between tides, and in some instances, in 

 sands above the surf? Yet few if any phases of animal life, not 

 even the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly, are as 



* Editor of Nautilus, 

 Dear Sir : 



The thought has occurred to me that many of the Nautilus readers would be inter- 

 ested, now and then, in articles less technical and scientific than those usually pre- 

 sented in its columns. In order to test the matter I take the liberty of offering for 

 insertion the subjoined chat regarding New Jersey Coast Mollusks and a few of 

 their neighbors. Very truly, 



JOHN FORD. 



