Page:American Seashells (1954).djvu/514

Genus Macrocallista Meek 1876 Macrocallista nimbosa Solander Sunray Venus Plate 39b North Carolina to Florida and the Gulf States. 4 to 5 inches in length, elongate, compressed, glossy-smooth with a thin varnish-like periostracum. Exterior dull salmon to dull mauve with broken, radial bands of darker color. Interior dull white with a blush of reddish over the central area. Moderately common in shallow, sandy areas and not un- commonly washed ashore after storms. Macrocallista maculata Linne Calico Clam Plates lb; 396 North Carolina to south half of Florida and the West Indies. I /4 to 2 34 inches in length, ovate, glossy-smooth with a thin varnish-like periostracum. Exterior cream with checkerboard markings of brownish red. Rarely albino or all dark-brown. Moderately common in shallow, sandy areas in certain localities. A popular collector's item. Also known as the Checker- board or Spotted Clam. Genus Callocardia A. Adams 1864 Subgenus Agriopoma Dall 1902 Callocardia texasiana Dall Texas Venus Plate 32k; figure aSe Northwest Florida to Texas. 1/4 to 3 inches in length, % as high. Externally resembling Fitar mor- rhuana, but much more elongate, having the beaks rolled in under themselves, and with a more elongate, faint lunule. The posterior cardinal is S-shaped in the right valve. Uncommon, if not rare. Found on the beaches, but its biology and habits are unknown. Genus Amiantis Carpenter 1863 Amiantis callosa Conrad Pacific White Venus Santa Monica, California, to south Mexico. 3 to 4% inches in length, longer than high, beaks pointing anteriorly, shell hard, heavy, glossy and with neat concentric ribs. Lunule small, heart- shaped and pressed in slightly under the beaks. Anterior end round. Color solid ivory. A very attractive, fairly common species living just below tide line on sandy bottoms in the open surf. Commonly washed ashore alive after