SOLEN.
19
Yar. arcuata.
Shell usually smaller, more or less curved,
but equally deep relatively to the breadth.
Habitat : Common on all our sandy shores which
are uncovered at spring tides ; seldom beyond that limit,
although in the Dredging Report of the British Association in 1850 it is stated to have been taken in the
Orkneys at a depth of 12 f. The variety is found on
many parts of our coasts, especially those of Ireland
and Scotland—I have a specimen from Burra Firth
in Unst, of unusual dimensions, viz. nearly 1^ inch
long or deep by 7 inches in breadth ; Norway (Sars).
This variety was noticed by Turton in his ^Conchological Dictionary;' it is referred by Forbes and Hanley to B. ensis.
The late Dr. Lukis found it living
with that species in Belgrave Bay, Guernsey, and sent
me specimens of both for comparison. The typical
form occurs in many of the newer or postpliocene
deposits, as well as in the Norwich and Bed Crag
Uddevalla (Malm) ; Sicily (Philippi). Its foreign range
comprises Behring's Straits, the North-east coast of
America, Faroe Isles, and all the intermediate shores to
the ^gean, including the African side of the Mediterranean.
In Lister's days it was called in Yorkshire "Hosefish,"'^ and caught (if the tide was out at night) by
candle-light. He adds that they make a delicious sauce,
and have the flavour of shrimps. "In Ireland it is
much eaten in Lent'^ (Da Costa). Fleming says that
when a little stale they are a tempting bait for cod and
haddock. The teeth are liable to vary. In a specimen
from Oxwich Bay near Swansea the laterals are placed
closer than usual to the hinge ; and that of the left valve
is branched, as in S. pellucidiis, and divided into three.
S, novacula of Montagu and S. ligiila of Turton
19
Yar. arcuata.
Shell usually smaller, more or less curved,
but equally deep relatively to the breadth.
Habitat : Common on all our sandy shores which
are uncovered at spring tides ; seldom beyond that limit,
although in the Dredging Report of the British Association in 1850 it is stated to have been taken in the
Orkneys at a depth of 12 f. The variety is found on
many parts of our coasts, especially those of Ireland
and Scotland—I have a specimen from Burra Firth
in Unst, of unusual dimensions, viz. nearly 1^ inch
long or deep by 7 inches in breadth ; Norway (Sars).
This variety was noticed by Turton in his ^Conchological Dictionary;' it is referred by Forbes and Hanley to B. ensis.
The late Dr. Lukis found it living
with that species in Belgrave Bay, Guernsey, and sent
me specimens of both for comparison. The typical
form occurs in many of the newer or postpliocene
deposits, as well as in the Norwich and Bed Crag
Uddevalla (Malm) ; Sicily (Philippi). Its foreign range
comprises Behring's Straits, the North-east coast of
America, Faroe Isles, and all the intermediate shores to
the ^gean, including the African side of the Mediterranean.
In Lister's days it was called in Yorkshire "Hosefish,"'^ and caught (if the tide was out at night) by
candle-light. He adds that they make a delicious sauce,
and have the flavour of shrimps. "In Ireland it is
much eaten in Lent'^ (Da Costa). Fleming says that
when a little stale they are a tempting bait for cod and
haddock. The teeth are liable to vary. In a specimen
from Oxwich Bay near Swansea the laterals are placed
closer than usual to the hinge ; and that of the left valve
is branched, as in S. pellucidiis, and divided into three.
S, novacula of Montagu and S. ligiila of Turton