occasional patches. Two or three species of 
red algae are widespread and common. 
Fishes 
The numerous species of fish include several 
commercial varieties such as the bluefish 
(Pomatomus saliatriz), striped bass (Roccus sazatilis), 
white perch (Roccus americanus), weakfish 
(Cynoscion regalis), spot (Letostomus zanthurus), 
croaker (Micropogon undulatus), and flounder 
(Paralichthys dentatus). 
Invertebrates 
Nearly all major groups of invertebrates 
are represented in this habitat. Some of the 
more characteristic species are: 
Sponges 
Red Sponge ( Microciona prolifera) 
Jellyfishes 
Dactylometra quinguecirrha 
Comb -jellies 
Mnemiop sis leidyt 
Annelid Worms 
Clam Worm (Nereis sp.) 
Pelecypod (bivalve) Mollusks 
Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) 
Bent Mussel (Brachidontes recurvus) 
Gem Shell (Gemma gemma) 
Quahog (Mercenaria mercenaria) 
Baltic Macoma (Macoma balthica) 
Stout Razor Clam (Tagelus plebdius) 
Little Surf Clam (Mulinia lateralis) 
Softshelled Clam (Mya arenaria) 
Gastropod (univalve) Mollusks 
Odo stomia impressa 
Bithum varium 
Mitrelia lunata 
Dog Whelks (Nassarius spp.) 
Sayella chesapeakea 
Acteocina canaliculata 
Barnacles 
Balanus sp. 
Amphipod Crustaceans 
Gammaridae 
Decapod Crustaceans 
Sand Shrimp (Crangon septemspinosa) 
Common Prawn (Palaemonetes vulgaris) 
Mud Crab (Xanthidae) 
Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) 
Horseshoe Crabs 
Limulus polyphemus 
Ascidians 
Sea Grapes (Molgula manhatiensia) 
Waterfowl 
Numbers of waterfowl wintering in salt 
estuarine bays may vary greatly from year to 
year. Populations usually are high during 
severe, cold winters, when many waterfowl 
leave areas of lower salinity because of ex- 
tensive ice formation. Populations are com- 
paratively low during mild winters. 
The characteristic species of transient and 
wintering waterfowl are: 
Primary Species 
Greater Scaup Oldsquaw 
Lesser Scaup White-winged Scoter 
Common Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser 
Bufflehead 
Secondary Species 
Whistling Swan (local) Redhead (local) 
Canada Goose Canvasback 
Brant (local) Surf Scoter 
Black Duck Ruddy Duck 
Pintail 
The various diving ducks, sea ducks, arid 
mergansers are quite generally distributed, 
with the exception of Redheads, which usually 
congregate in large numbers in the Honga 
River and Tar Bay areas in the extensive beds 
of sago pondweed. Whistling Swans and Brant 
are characteristic inhabitants in certain places 
along the lower Eastern Shore. Canada 
Geese and certain species of dabbling ducks, 
chiefly Black Ducks and Pintails, occur regu- 
larly on shoal-water areas that are located 
near extensive marshes of the salt estuarine 
bays or near large grain fields. 
Results of sample counts in 3.1 square 
miles of salt estuarine bays are shown in 
table 8. 
The gullet and gizzard food contents of 58 
waterfowl collected in salt estuarine bays 
were examined, The leaves, stems, and root- 
stalks of eelgrass and widgeongrass were 
the chief natural vegetable foods. Large 
amounts of corn were taken, either from 
illegally baited areas or from crop fields. 
Invertebrate animal foods were more important 
than in other estuarine habitats. The principal 
pelecypod (bivalve) mollusks included the Bal- 
tic macoma (Macoma baithica), little surf clam 
(Mulinia lateralis), and the gem shell (Gemma gemma) 
The predominant gastropod (univalve) mollusks 
were Acteocina canaliculata, Nassarius spp., Bittium 
varium, and Mitrella lunata. 
COASTAL BAYS 
The coastal bays are shallow lagoons sepa- 
rated from the ocean by narrow, sandy strips 
of barrier beach, They include Chincoteague, 
Newport, Sinepuxent, Isle of Wight, and 
