310 
MR. W. B.4TESON ON" SOME VARIATION'S OF CARDIUM EDULE 
occurred at Jaman Klich, on the sand flats between Jaman Klich and Shumish Kul, 
in a small dry lagoon lately separated from the Aral Sea, and in the old deposits at 
Abu Kir (Mandara, Plate 26, flg. 12). Taken in connection with these cases of the 
occurrence of such shells, I think that there can be little doubt that shells of this 
type are connected with life in shallow lagoons opening out from a sea. All the five 
localities in which they were found were of this kind, and none were ever found by me 
anywhere else. On the sliores of the Aral Sea and at Shumish Kul none occurred. 
Jaman Klich. 
This is the smallest of the three dry lakes. It was little more than a large pool 
formed by a widening and deepening of the channel wdiich connected Jaksi Klich with 
the Aral Sea. At the time when it was full of water its diameter was about 
half a mile, and its depth 15 to 20 feet. The bottom of the lake is covered by a sheet 
of salt about 300 yards across. The shells upon the upper part of its shore do not 
differ materially from those of the Aral Sea, being thick shells with large beaks and 
little colour. Their proportional length is rather greater than that of the Aral Sea 
shells. There is little or no ribbing on their inner surfaces. 
The shells at the bottom of Jaman Klich are thin, highly-coloured shells, with 
much ribbing on the inside and beaks greatly reduced in size. They are greatly 
elongated, though less so than the shells of Jaksi Klich. The average ratio of length 
to breadth in 30 shells varying in length between 24 mm. and 16 mm. is 1 :0’726. 
being pi’actically the same average ratio as that in the shells at the bottom of 
Shumish Kul. 
Amonst these shells were great quantities of Dreissena pohjmorpha, which, though, 
as always, veiy variable in shape, did not differ in any uniform manner from those of 
the Aral Sea. 
At the bottom of Jaman Klich is a considerable number of “ gneat shells.” They 
are like those of Jaksi Klich and are much worn. 
On the flat between these two lakes and Shumish Kul are many shells strewn. 
They are, in all respects, like those of the upper deposits at Jaman Klich, and in no 
wH.v remarkable. There are amongst them a few great shells,” but no thin or highly 
coloured ones, which occur only in the three lake heels. 
Cockles of the Aral Sea. 
In the Aral Sea itself, the Cockles are of very uniform character. They are fairly 
thick shells (see Table of Weights). The anteiior 10 to 11 ribs are generally white, 
and the remainino’ 6 or 8 bluish or brown. 
o 
There are no “ great shells ” among them, nor any thin and liighly coloured ones. 
