ZOOLOGY. 
383 
exhibiting brown zigzag marks, after the manner of the young Venus mercenaria (V, notata , 
Say.) Others from San Francisco, where they are sold in the markets as food, sometimes 
exhibit brown undulating cross lines, at others broad longitudinal bands. In size and outline 
they.vary more or less, but in the characters of the teeth and hinge there is no material 
difference. 
“ T. Straminea, Conrad?” of Sowerby, Thes. 72, fig. 151, is a different shell, which I have 
received from Panama, and consider it a variety of V. Mstrionica. Conrad has not used the 
name straminea . His name staminea is dropped by Carpenter in his general catalogue, 
straminea only being quoted.—(See Rep. 306.) 
SAXIDOMUS NUTTALLI. 
Saxidomus Nultalli, Conk. Jour. Acad. Phila. VII, p. 429, pi. 19, fig. 13, 1837. 
Venerupis gigantea, Desh. Rev. Zool. p. 359, 1839.— Idem, Mag. deZool.; pi. 43, (fossil?) 1841.— —Midden. Beit. Ill, 
p. 52, pi. xviii, f. 1-3. 
Venus maxima, Philippi, Abbild. II, t. 6, f. 1. 1846. Sowb. Thes., 46, f. 127. 
Saxidomus gigantea, and S. Nuttatti, Cakp. Rep. p. 299. 
JJab. —Shoalwater bay and Puget Sound, Dr. Cooper; Bodega, California, Dr. Trask; Sitka, Middendorf; Kamschatka, 
Pot. & Mich., (Middendorff.) 
‘ ‘ This, which somewhat resembles the quahog of the Atlantic coast, and is called by that 
name, is, however, much superior to it as food. It is found in the south part of Shoalwater 
bay only, and near the mouth of the Copalux. I have found it, also, common in Puget Sound. 
Its station is in somewhat hard sand, near low-water mark.”—C. 
There is also a variety of this shell found fossil in coast banks elevated ten feet above the 
sea level, which is very correctly represented in Deshayes’ plate. The circumstance mentioned 
by Deshayes, of the encroachment of the ligament, destroying the teeth, is frequently observ¬ 
able, even in young shells. This species varies much in different localities, but chiefly in the 
exterior marking of the shell, the disk being sometimes brown, with rough concentric strise, 
as described by Conrad; others, from Oregon, are much smoother, without regular striae. But 
the most aberrant appearance is found in another variety that occurs fossil at Shoalwater bay, 
where it was collected by Dr. Cooper. This is well figured in Middendorff’s work, as above 
cited, and less distinctly appears in Deshayes’ figure. The specimen described by the latter 
(from California) appears to be fossil, as he suspected. Middendorff gives no such intimation 
regarding his. 
A specimen from California measures 4.8 inches in breadth. A somewhat larger and very 
perfect specimen is most accurately figured and described by Anton, in the work of Philippi, 
above quoted, whence it is also copied by Sowerby. 
VENUS LAMELLIFERA. 
Venus lamellifera, Conr. Jour. Acad. Phila. VII, p. 251, pi. 19, f. 19. 1837. 
Venerupis cordieri, var. /? Desh. Cat. Vara. p. 191, No. 1. 
Fetricola cordieri, Desh. Rev. Cuv. p. 358. 1839. 
Rupellaria lamellifera, Cakp. Rep. p. 299. 
Eab. —San Diego; Mr. Cassidy. 
Several entire specimens, but worn smooth, and one with perfect camellse, were sent by Mr. 
Cassidy to the Smithsonian Institution. 
