283 Natural and Economical History 
Speaking im the common phrase, there are four bivalve 
shell-fish known as clams. One is the huge oceanic mollus- 
ca, living in the Atlantic ocean, foundin the stomach of the 
Balcena, washed to the shore alive by severe winds from the 
south-east upon the beaches of Long Island, known to be a 
nice article of human food, affording shells convenient enough 
to be employed by dairy women as skimmers, and sufficiently 
prominent to have been made the Mactra solidissima of your 
arrangement. The second is the Hairy Clam, inhabiting the 
muddy bays of Long Island, and not eaten; has some re- 
semblance to your 4rca barbata; though in a matter of such 
intricacy, revision may be required. A third is the animal in- 
habiting the sandy shores, usually between high and low wa- 
ter murs, called by the native Mohegans Susquahog, and by 
our white folks the Soft Clam or Pisser; is much esteemed for 
eating, and employed very much as bait for fish ; and comes 
very near to your Mya arenarta, ifit is notthe same. The 
fourth is the Hard Clam, or Quahog of the Indigenes, inhabit- 
ing both the sandy shores and muddy bays all around Long 
Island and the coast of New Jersey, and seems to be the Ve- 
mus mercenaria, or clam from whose shells certain articles of 
value and ornament, in the esteem of the Indians, are manu- 
factured. ‘There are numerous varieties of this shell along 
the shores of New York. At least I choose to consider those 
differences as varieties which other inquirers might perhaps 
view as species. The eight following, from the shore of 
Plandome and Cow bay, take their discriminative character 
from the shell, especially as they happen to be coloured. 
Var. 1. Clam or Quahog, with shells wholly white. 
Var. 2.. C. or Q. with a faint and just distinguishable co- 
louring of blue, usually where the muscle of the prominent 
angle is inserted ati the extremity, or end opposite to that 
where the cordiform or heart shaped configuration is seen. 
Var. 3, C. white internally like the preceding, but with a 
more distinct and extended tinge of blue, (or purplish, or even 
violet as it may sometimes be called,) prevailing at the beak, 
and predominant near the hinge. . 
Var. 4. C. witha deeper blue (purple or violet) at the 
prominent angle, and showing the hues over the place of 
muscular insertion in curved lines and clouds. 
Var. 5. @. having a complexion yet more intense than 
any of the preceding, extending over the spot of muscular 
insertion to the furrows or grooves of the hinge, and impart- 
