THE ECONOMIC MOLLUSCA OF ACADIA. 
87 
the fact that the summits are angular, will distinguish the young of 
this species from Cardium pinnulalum which has flattened ribs bearing 
scales, and no such epidermis. It is in our waters from two to two and 
one-half inches long and nearly as broad. 
Of its habits, very little is known. It lives partly buried in mud 
or fine sand under a few fathoms of water. It must feed altogether 
Fig. 14. — Cardium Islandicum. Natural Size. 
'upon microscopic organisms, plants and perhaps animals. It would 
probably have to be taken in a dredge of large mesh— so constructed as 
to allow the mud and gravel, etc., to pass through. It could probably 
■be cultivated in our waters. 
Economics. This species is never, so far as we have been 
able to learn, been eaten in America. It is inserted in this 
paper on account of its close relationship to the edible 
Cockle ( Cardium edule ) of Europe ; without doubt it is edible, 
and is probably as good food as the European form, which it 
resembles closely in nearly all respects. The chief distinguish- 
ing mark between the two to the non-scientific observer is 
the smaller number of ribs, twenty-six, in Cardium edule , 
C. Islandicum having thirty-six. 
The European Cockle lives on sand beaches and the banks 
of estuaries. We are told in the Fisheries Exhibition Litera- 
ture that “It is equally good, raw or cooked, and may be 
