9S 
MYA. GAPER. 
smaller end where it gapes very much, strongly wrinkled 
transversely, covered with a tough ochraceous skin, which 
extends beyond the margin at the open end and forms a thin 
membranaceous wrinkled tube, sometimes from six to nine 
inches in length, dead white under the skin; the valves 
convex, and turning a little back at the open end; inside 
white : hinge with a broad thick obtuse erect tooth pro¬ 
jecting forwards : length sometimes two inches and a half, 
and three and a half broad. 
At the mouths of rivers, v. v. 
* 2. Mya arenaria. Sand Gaper. 
Lister , pi. 418. f. 262, and pi. 419. f. 2f>3— Pepmt, pl.45 
— Donovan, pi. 85— Linn. Trans, vi. pi. 14. f. 3, 4— Dorset 
Cat. pi. 4. i. 2— Wood , pi. 17- f- 3. 
Shell strong, oval, gaping and rounded at both ends, 
hut elongated and narrowed on one side, covered with a 
thin yellowish or reddish-brown skin, sometimes marked 
with dark patches, irregularly striate concentrically, with 
often a faint appearance of longitudinal lines, sometimes a 
little distorted or indented at the margin; the narrow end 
turning a little back, with a few hairs attached to the outer 
skin; inside white, glossy; hinge near the larger end; 
the tooth thick, erect, and spoon-shaped, with a small la¬ 
teral tooth-like projection from the anterior side: length 
sometimes two inches and a half, and five in breadth. 
The younger shells are whitish, with an orange-yellow 
hand round the margin ; and when not more than half an 
inch in length, are clear white and transparent. 
Under sand and gravel, v. v. 
3. Mya declivis. Sloping Gaper . 
Wood , pi. 18. f. 3. 
Myn preetenuis. Pennant , pi. 50. f. 1. 
Shell oval, rather convex, very thin and brittle, semi¬ 
transparent, white, smooth and somewhat polished, except 
at the cartilage end which is a little roughened, rounded 
at one end, somewhat truncate and angular and a little 
gaping at the other, often a little contracted at the front 
margin towards the truncated side, irregularly striate trans¬ 
versely : beaks nearly central, forming a roughened and 
somewhat angular slope down the cartilage margin; inside 
