496 The American Naturalist [June, 



made to the beds of mussels a half mile or more above or below 

 the mill-dam and in an hour's time a bushel or two of specimens 

 would be taken, the collection perhaps representing fifteen to 

 twenty species. 

 Unio rectus Lamarck. 



Not abundant, and fine young shells not often found ; both 

 the white and purple nacre specimens are found. Shells seven 

 to seven and a half inches in length are met with. 

 U. gibbosus Barnes. 



Adult shells are common at a locality a mile below the 

 village. Young uneroded specimens harder to obtain, nacre 

 both liver colored and white and occasionally one is found with 

 the shadings beautifully intermingled in the central parts, 

 and with a marginal band of deep purple. 

 U. anodontoides Lea. 



Common ; found everywhere associated in small groups or 

 singly. Not a hundred yards of bank can anywhere be found, 

 where there is not more or less of the younger shells, which 

 have been carried out by the muskrats or minks and from 

 which a meal has been obtained from their juicy contents. 



It would be interesting to know why Lea gave this hand- 

 some species its peculiar name, for it is as unlike an Anodonta 

 as it well could be. The large old specimens are a rich 

 horn color, while younger shells are almost white, and some 

 beautifully rayed with greenish lines. These three allied 

 species maintain characteristics and markings entirely distinct 

 from each other. 

 Jj. plicata LeSueur. 



Very numerous ; wagon loads of them are taken out every 

 season by fishermen to bait trout lines ; bushels of them are 

 carried away, and after the epidermis is removed by ashes 

 water, they are utilized in the cemeteries for grave decora- 

 tions ; they are also much used as an edging to flower beds, 

 and walks. A score of years ago, rings made of this shell were 

 in considerable demand and some village geniuses worked up 

 quite a paying industry in their manufacture. A piece of the 

 shell would be worked down by grinding, and the use of drills, 



