The Philippine Journal or Science, 

 General Biologj', Ethnologj' and Anthropology. 

 Vol. VII, No. 4, 1912. 



NOTES ON PHILIPPINE EDIBLE MOLLUSKS. 



By Alvin Seale. 



(From the Ichthyological Section, Biological Laboratory, Bureau of Science, 

 Manila, P. I.) 



Mollusks ^ are daily sold in Manila markets, and no one seems 

 to be able to give any definite information about them. . Fili- 

 pinos, especially of the laboring class, depend largely upon these 

 shell fish for their daily food, and it is obviously important 

 that we should make a careful study of the most important 

 mollusks, in order that we may devise means of cultivating and 

 continuing the supply, and especially there should be careful 

 supervision of oyster beds, in order that they may be free from 

 contamination. 



The mollusks treated of in this paper are merely the common 

 forms that are constantly used as food by the Filipinos. Any 

 species listed may be purchased in the Manila markets at al- 

 most any time. A detailed list of all the mollusks used for 

 food in the Philippines would include practically every species 

 known to occur here. 



OYSTERS. 



Three species of edible oysters are found in the Philippines. 

 These are Ostrea orientalis Ch., 0. palmipes Saub,, and O. pyxi- 

 data Reeve. All are known as talahan in Tagalog and timer in 

 Ilocano. They form an important food supply in the Philip- 

 pines, being found in almost all the islands. Near Manila large 

 oyster beds occur on the tide flats at Malabon; and, in fact, 

 almost all the esteras of Manila Bay have their quota of oysters. 



' I do not claim to be a conchologist, and the identifications in this paper 

 are the results of comparing specimens with identified species in the 

 Quadras collection, and an examination of such literature as was available. 

 Doubtless there are mistakes. 



273 



