104 BULLETIN OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
fishermen. They are both useful for the same purposes — 
bait and food. Forbes and Hanley tell us that it is eaten both- 
in Britain and North America. It is more common in England 
than Mya arenaria , but the reverse is certainly the case with 
us. It is an important article of food to the Cod, being found 
in their stomachs in great numbers, especially on the New- 
foundland Banks. 
25. Solen ensis Linnasus. 
Yar. Americana Gould. 
Dnsatella Americana Verrill. 
Razor-shell, Razor-fish, Long Clam, Knife-handle. 
Mic-mac , Sasabegwit, pi, Sasabegwidul. 
[Solen, the ancient name ; ensis, a kind of sword, a scimitar.] 
Distribution, (a) General; — Low-water mark to twenty 
fathoms. Florida to Labrador. 
(b) In Acadia ; — (inN. B,) Grand Manan, at low water, in 
sand, rare, Stimpson . Eastport, Gould. Bay of Fundy, Verrill, 
Passamaquoddy Bay, Ganong. Shediac, Whiteaves . (In N. 
S.) Sandy shores, whole coast, Jones. St, Mary’s Bay,. 
Verhruzen. (In P. E. I.) Common in Northumberland 
Straits, Dawson. Probably to be found everywhere on the 
shores of Acadia where there is sand and clear water, though 
nowhere very abundant. 
Habits. We have upon our shores no Mollusc so strikingly distinct 
from all others as this. Its parallel slightly curving sides and squarely 
truncated ends are found in no other of our shells, and they give it a 
shape which fully justifies the names of “Razor-shell” and “Knife- 
handle,” by which it is commonly known. It grows to a length of about 
six inches, though eight inches is not unknown. The young animal is- 
covered with a shining greenish-yellow epidermis, which partly disap 
pears in old shells, leaving the latter a dull chalky white. At one end 
(the posterior) project slightly two short fringed tubes — united below 
their tips. At the other (anterior) end projects the powerful “ foot” by 
which the animal is enabled to burrow so rapidly in the sand. These- 
burrows are found only near extreme low-water mark. They are two to- 
three feet deep, and so rapidly can the animals travel down them that 
