374 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



The Cumingia tellinoides (Plate XXX, fig. 221) and Eellia planulata 

 (Plate XXX, fig. 226) are sometimes found living in the mud at low- 

 water, but are rare in such situations. They are more common at the 

 depth of a few fathoms on muddy and shelly bottoms. 



The ribbed muscle, ModiolajolicattiZa, (p. 307, Plate XXXI, fig. 238, 

 is very abundant near and even above high-water mark, along the 

 muddy borders of the marshes and banks and among the roots of grass- 

 The Modiola hamatus is occasionally met with, especially on oyster- 

 beds, adhering to the shells, where it is sometimes very abundant. It 

 has probably been introduced with the oysters, from the South, where 

 it is common. It somewhat resembles the preceding species, but it is 

 shorter, broader, with strong radiating ribs, many of which are forked. 

 Its color is yellow or yellowish brown. 



The common "scollop," Pecten irradians, (p. 361, Plate XXXII, fig. 

 243.) occurs among the eel-grass on muddy shores in great abundance, 

 in many localities, especially in sheltered places. The young shells may 

 be found during the whole summer, but the adult specimens come up to 

 the shallow waters and shores in great numbers in the autumn. This 

 species is very active and can rise from the bottom and swim through 

 the water with great rapidity by opening and energetically closing its 

 valves, thus expelling the water from the gill-cavity, the reaction send- 

 ing the shell backward. It often remains up among the leaves of the 

 eel-grass, resting upon them, where they are matted together, but if 

 alarmed the creature suddenly swims away in the manner described, and 

 takes to the bottom. It is very watchful and quickly perceives its 

 enemies. The thickened outer edge of the mantle, both above and 

 below, is fringed with rows of numerous tapering papillse or tentacles, 

 the inner ones largest, and among the bases of these there is a row of 

 very bright silvery or bluish eyes, thirty to forty or more to each valve 

 the number increasing with the size of the shell ; a short distance within 

 the outer fringe of tentacles there is a raised yellow or orange ridge, 

 which bears another series of smaller papillae, and the space between 

 these and the outer ones is radiately striated. The central muscle which 

 closes the valves of this shell is large and powerful. This is the portion 

 which is sold in our markets in large quantities, and is highly esteemed 

 by many as an article of food. Its decided sweetish taste is, however, 

 objectionable to some persons. To some, also, it proves actually injuri- 

 ous, sometimes producing nausea and even worse symptoms. After 

 storms this shell is sometimes found thrown upon the beaches in immense 

 quantities. 



The oyster, Ostrcea Virginiana, (p. 310,) is often planted upon the 

 muddy shores at and below low-water mark, in many parts of Long Island 

 Sound and elsewhere, but for this purpose the muddy estuaries are pre- 

 ferred, where the water is more brackish and the bottom less disturbed 

 by the storms. The mud, however, should not be too deep, and ought 

 to have a solid substratum, a few inches beneath. 



