CLASS V. LAMELLIBRANCHIATA: ORDER 1. SIPIIONATA. 521 
The Round Clam, Venus inercetiaria of De Kay — the Quahog of the Indians — is two to three 
and a half inches long, and is greatly esteemed as food. It is found from Delaware Bay to 
Cape Ann, and is consumed in large quantities. From the internal purple part of the shell, 
the colored beads of the Aborigines were formerly manufactured, constituting the wam'pum which 
was used as their specie currency. Long Island was anciently the great mint for the supply of 
this article, hence its Mohican name of Seawan Hackee, or the Isle of Shells, The V. notata 
resembles the preceding, and is often found mingled with it : by some it is regarded as of the 
same species. It is, however, smaller, and is probably distinct. There are many other species 
of the genus Venus along the coasts of the United States. 
THE MACTRID^. 
To this family belongs the Beach-Clam or Dipper-Clam of Long Island, Macira soUdissima, 
the largest of our bivalve shells, measuring sometimes seven inches across. It is found buried in 
the sand, and is relished as food. There are several other species, and also several other analo- 
gous genera, on the Atlantic shores of the United States. 
THE MYAD^. 
To this family belongs the Long Clam, Mya aretiaria, found on both sides of the Northern At- 
lantic shores ; it is abundant on the coasts of New England and New York, and greatly esteemed 
by the inhabitants for food. In some places it retains its Indian name of Maninose. The shape 
of the shell is oval, the siphon protruding, sometimes half an inch, from one end. It is found 
buried a few inches deep in the sand between high and low water mark. It is usually detected 
by a small aperture in the sand, from which it ejects a stream of water if any one treads near it. 
On parts of Long Island the hogs root for 
this species, following the ebb and flow 
of the tide. Five thousand bushels of 
these clams are annually consumed in Bos- 
ton ; five thousand barrels, containing five 
millions of clams, are annually taken and 
salted on the coasts of Barnstable and 
Essex, in Massachusetts, for bait for the 
cod-fisheries. This species is very ex- 
tensively used along the shores of Rhode 
Island''' and Connecticut. In point of real 
importance it yields to no shell-fish in our 
country except the oyster. 
There are several other species of this 
genns : the Panopcea Australia is a large 
analogous species, found at Port Natal, on the coast of Africa. It buries itself several feet 
deep in the sand. In general form it resembles the long clam, but its siphon projects farther 
from the shell. 
* The Glam-'bakes, whicli take place every season, near Bristol, Ehode Island, and often in other parts of that 
state, as well as in Massachusetts, are said to be founded on traditions of the Indians in that quarter, who were ac- 
customed to hold clam-feasts, in which great numbers were assembled, and a high festival was had over Long 
Clams and Green Corn, roasted in heaps, and arranged in layers between sea-weed. The modern Clam-bake is a re- 
finement upon that of the xiborigines. A circular layer of large stones, some ten feet in diameter, is arranged on the 
ground : over this is made a strong fire till the stones are nearly red-hot. Over the stones is placed a layer of sea- 
weed, and on this a layer of clams two or three inches thick. Then comes another covering of sea-weed," and then 
green corn in the husk, with potatoes and other vegetables ; then a layer of chickens dressed and seasoned ; then a 
coat of sea-weed ; then tautog, pan-fish, lobsters, and the like. These layers are repeated according to the extent of the 
party. The pile being finished, the whole is covered with a tent-sheet to keep the steam in. When done, each 
member of the party helps himself in a free-and-easy way. The feast is said to be luxurious beyond description, and 
it is affirmed that no one was ever known to suffer from a surfeit at a Clam-bake. In the ancient days of the savages, 
renowned warriors assembled here, from far and near, to partake of these feasts. In like manner, the braves of the 
bench, the bar, and the forum, of our days, gather at the bakes, attended by fair ladies— these assemblies sometimes 
amounting to hundreds of individuals. 
Vol. IL— 66 
THE PANOP^A AUSTRALIS. 
