New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-07
SHELLS OF LONG ISLAND.
BEAUTIFUL SPECIMENS OF MANY vAR1E-
TIES ALL ALONG THE SHORE.
sEAwANHAKA THE INDIAN NAME FOR THE ISL
AND is THE HOME or THOUSANDS
OLE .,MARINES"

sEAwANHAKA THE INDIAN NAME FOR THE ISL
AND is THE HOME or THOUSANDS
OF MARINES"
or the many names given Long Island none
are more suited TO the character of Its shores than
the Indian appeaton. Seawanhaka. or Isle or
Shells. II is indeed. island upon whose beaches
an infinite variety Of shells found some beauti-
full and all interesting. The mounds OF broken
shells still in existence testify to their great abun.
dance when only the red trod the beautiful
shores Of Seawanhaka.
The tremendous force OF the the south
beaches pulverzes the shells but the beaches
of the deeply indented coves and harbors on the
north shore delIcntely beautiful marine wonders In
n good state OF preservation are constantly found
One Of the fraiest and pre;tiest OF Long Island
shells is the Anomia glabia. 1t Is found In great
abundance certain localities. 1t IS called also
silver and golden she'll some have a svery
appearance and others deco golden tint. The
coors vary from pale yellow to deepest orange
from white to beautiful shade OF shrimp pink,
and sometimes dull lead color, with iridescent
shades. when Il number together there Is
heard sort Of Jngling sound, hence another name
Jingle shells The little animals their owners.
arrange themselves In layers or punches around
an old scallop other large shell
II there more than will go around the shell
they will pile themselves top. layer upon layer
The most wonderful power they have is their mode
OF rveting themselves a larger shell or to each
other. Each shell Is perforated on the under sioe'
and little excrescence on its fellow fits into this
hole just rivet would fasten one piece Of iron
to another. This Is the reason for the holes so
often observed in silver and golden shells. IL one
gives group of shells tap they do not all close
at once. but after another, In regular success
sion, untl! the whole mass IL protected.
Here the dainty Jingle shell the little boat she'll
| Crcpodua fornicata--is found. When emptied OF
its inhabitant. this shell bears close resemblance
| 10 Il rowboat with seat In the stern. extending
| across. with "A hollow space beneath 1t has deep
| and pale purplish tints. Another curious shell
found Lcng Island shores Is the boring pholas,
| or date she'll 1t makes its home In either stone
wood; in the latter 1t always bores against the
| grain. 1t selects home while young, and bores
ont place. Increasing the size OF its home as II
grows. As It never leaves its position. 1t Is en-
,.rey dependent upon what floats BY for It's food.
Mytclus odus. edible i3ussels. strewn on
Long Island shores in great quantities. 1T Fort
Hamilton scarcely be found at low tide
but is covered with them. Some Of the flats on
and near Coney Island literally paved with
them for miles. Some prcttlly marked with
light-blu!sh bands. the lines forming sweep some
thing like the tail Of comet. Occasionally one is
found of deep-crange color Others smooth as
glass with irdescent colors.
The BottrylT sometimes called little bottles -
Son"d e U" ~ ns uiv 1'oay Iii, VI we
iiaS.noGs OF Gets and some Of them have tiny
Sll'il: OF = NfICtlr nature INrlE RcEtTdl appear
ance ia Ike patches OF bright jelly.
SHELLS LIKE PUNCHES OF GRAPES
Sometimes they arranged in the form Of a
bunch OF grapes; thci- colorings greenish gray
with dark blue markings; white. with black star
.ikc centres. lisht yellow and deep wine color.
The searchcr for these interesting groups viii find
/ them among the rocks arranged IN a nearly cir
Cular form. Ike the spokes OF a wheel.
Specimens Of seawced Ia wing small white rings
picked ny on the shore These rings are really
tiny shells; hey ar" called sp!rorbis These little
creatures cement themselves so firmly 10 the leaves
u seaN-ed mat % IS impossible 70 shake hem OF
The con.mon scaop. so familiar 10 all. is beautiful
creature. IL j. finely fTinG,d. OF scarlet or orange
color through which can he seen It's mantl. or
covering ~ dccat" fawn color. the VIII set eff
BY Il number OF bright eyes Of emerald green. en-
circ.cc with band Of turquoise blue. In the
scallops show to perfection all the beauties
Nature has lavished on than
Th)s. VINO c7r"lessy pi r up the Nttle back hard
ohI.cis-coinmon.y known As "meimaids' sail
ors" sea purscs." from witch -four prongs are
protruIing-r -cr imagine what their original use
has been. They tho egg sacs Of the skateiSr.
In the spring the hard black pocket T. transparent
and soft ami tie egg plainly be m inside: the
fsh attaches the eggs TO seaweed Or rocks. When
the sac becomes black and hard. II y some times
called tho devils poke book"
r. Oh taking up starfsh. he hangs loose and
limp ne Is dead; but II he is Arm and docs not hang
Imply ne j. only playing postum" Put him n
the water and be- VII travel Of In d lively manner.
Uc is the op0~sum ~ tn sea. and Will fcgn death
W order 20 oscap" capture
The long strings 81 egg cases OF the pear shaped
, conch she'll are common on sand beaches: they are
composed OF many cream colored cases OF tough.