The Tellen Shells Sunset Shells - Wedge Shells - Family Tellinidie

T. elegans,

Wood, resembles T. radiata, in its polished, pink-rayed shell, but it has greater depth and roundness in its ventral surface, and a peculiar "elegant twist" of the elongated shell.

Habitat.—Gulf of Mexico.

The Rasp Tellina (T. scorbinata, Linn.) is almost circular in outline, and the surface is covered with small, triangular, raised scales. The general colour is yellowish, painted with large regular spots of brown in a rayed arrangement. Diameter, 2 to 3 inches.

Habitat.— Society and Philippine Islands.

The Purple Tellina (T. purpurescens, Brod. and Sby.) is remarkable for the deep, rich rose-purple of the shell, inside and out. White, scaly granulations rise all over the surface; the dorsal margin has a white border. Length, 3 inches.

Habitat.— Central America.

The Prince Tellina (T. princeps, Hanley) is vividly red with white margins. The fine cancellations of the surface are not scaly nor white. Length, 4 inches.

Habitat.— Peru.

Ida's Tellen

(T. Idce, Dall) is a dainty white shell, with a distinctly ridged fold on each side of the hinge line, posterior to the umbo. The first known shell of this species was found on the beach at San Pedro in 1891, by Mrs. Ida Shepard Oldroyd, of Long Beach. Believing it to be new to scientists, she sent it to Dr. Dall at the United States National Museum at Washington. It was an "unknown." So a drawing and description of this new Tellen were published in the bulletin of the Museum. Dr. Dall named it in honour of the lady who found it. This is one of several species of west coast shells whose existence was first dis covered by Mrs. Oldroyd.

The individual specimen upon which a new species is " erected" is called "the type." The original T. Idce is the pattern with which all subsequent specimens must be compared. Though a rare species, collectors about Long Beach have found several of them.

The Muddy Tellen (T. lutea, Gray) is from the Behring Sea. Its oval shell is angled at the boundary of the posterior 340 The Tellen Shells. Sunset Shells. Wedge Shells area by a ridge running straight to the beak. Ridges radiate from the beak on the inside of the shell. Striations under the dirty epidermis sculpture the surface. Hinge ligament conspicu ous. Length, 3 to 4 inches.

The Tellen (T. salmonea, is a not able shell because on the outside it is white or nearly so, and inside it is a rich salmon pink. The shell is thick, with glossy surface.

It is rectangular, the beaks at one corner and the ligament at one end. Length, I inch.

Habitat.— West coast.

A complete series of west coast Tellens would include, besides those described here, three or four species scarcely larger than a finger nail.

Genus MACOMA, Leach Shell oval, or almost round, convex; cardinal teeth narrow; pallial sinus very deep. Gill with a single lamella on each side; palpi very large, triangular. Eighty-five living species.

The Giant Macoma (M. secta, Conr.) leads the whole genus in size. It will cover the palm of your hand. Note the flat, thin and glossy shell, inequivalve, and bare of epidermis except at the edges. The general shape is oval, with the posterior end somewhat contracted, set off by a fold, and ending in a truncated point. The broad ligament, which lies in a concave depression, is conspicuous on the hinge line, back of the beaks. Length, 2 to 3 inches.

Habitat.— Southern California.

The Macoma (M. nasuta, Conr.) has the pos terior end of its smooth white shell drawn out into a narrow ex tension, which is bent to one side. The mollusk lives in mud flats, burying itself deeply, but keeping the tips of its red siphons in the water above. This species is very much in evidence in the shell heaps about San Francisco Bay, which still mark the site of old Indian camping grounds. It was evidently the preferred shell fish in the bill of fare of the aborigines. The sand clam, Mya arenaria, an immigrant to these waters, seems to be replacing M. nasuta to a considerable extent. The shell mounds show not a specimen of this recent intruder. It is not easy to say why the Macoma is dying out. Length, about 2 inches.

Habitat.— Kamschatka to Mexico.

341 The Tellen Shells. Sunset Shells. Wedge Shells The Little Macoma (M. Ballica, Linn.) scarcely larger than one's thumb nail, with rounded outline, somewhat con stricted posteriorly, is thin and pinkish or white. It is also a Californian species, but occurs abundantly on the whole Atlantic coast, and in Scotland and Norway. It is prolific in muddy and sandy bays, even following the banks of the Hudson River above the city of New York. It is protected by a thin, dingy epidermis. Length, I inch.