APPENDIX III 455 
in from ten to fifty fathoms. The Greenland cockle (Serripes 
grénlandicus) is about three inches in length, nearly smooth, 
with only a few obsolete ribs on the ends; the young is thin, and 
beautifully mottled with reddish purple. The hairy heart-shell 
(Cardium ciliatum) is about two inches in length, with about 
thirty-six acute radiating ribs on each valve. The shell is covered 
with a yellowish epidermis, forming rows of stiff bristles on the 
edge of the ribs. The common cockle of Europe (Cardiwm edule) 
is largely used for food. It is probable that both of these are also 
edible. Perhaps the most common shell of the coast is Macoma 
calcarea, quantities being brought up with each dredge. When on 
a muddy or sandy bottom, the thin epidermis is usually eroded, 
giving the shell a chalky appearance. Another characteristic 
bivalve of the more northern waters is the little brown clam, 
Astarte, of which four or five species are to be found along the 
Labrador coast. They are about an inch to an inch and a quarter 
in length, somewhat triangular in form, thick, with prominent 
concentric ridges, and a dark brown epidermis. Related to Astarte 
is Venericardia borealis, which has radiating, instead of concentric, 
ridges. 
Other bivalves which are constantly being caught in the dredge 
are the little, round, glossy brown Nucula tenuis, the polished 
greenish brown Yoldia myalis, and the pointed Leda pernula with 
a greenish epidermis and fine concentric lines. This group can be 
readily recognized by having numerous minute teeth along the hinge. 
There are a number of other bivalves which are occasionally 
brought up by the dredge, including a group with thin, pearly shells, 
represented by Thracia myopsis, Pandora glacialis, and Lyonsia 
arenosa. 
Some of the rivers and streams of the interior contain the fresh- 
water clam, or pearl mussel (Margaritana margaritifera), a species 
which is also found in northern Europe and Asia. It sometimes 
yields very handsome pearls, and I have seen a few beautiful ones, 
which were said to have come from Labrador. 
The Gastropoda, or the univalves, as they are often popularly 
called, slightly exceed the bivalves in the number of species. 
They seem, however, to be less abundant individually, especially 
the larger ones. The most prominent of the larger forms belong 
to the family Buccinide, or whelks. The common whelk (Buc- 
cinum undatum) is found along the entire coast. In northern 
Europe, where this species is abundant, it forms an extensive 
article of food. They make an excellent soup; or boiled, until 
they can be easily removed from the shell, they can be either 
fried in fat until brown, or eaten with pepper and vinegar. There 
are six or seven other species of whelks on the Labrador coast, 
