Psammobia.} PELECYPODA. L005 



Length, 27 mm. ; height, 16 mm. ; diameter, 8 mm. 



Type, which was in the Cuming collection, lost. 



Hob. Cape Maria van Diemen ; near Channel Island, Hauraki 

 Gulf, in 25 fathoms ; Port Pegasus, Stewart Island, in 18 fathoms. 

 (Captain Bollons.) 



Genus 2. SOLETELLINA, Blainville, 1824. 



Soletellina, Blainv., Diet. Sci. Nat., 1824 ; Manuel de Malac., 1825, 568. 

 Type : Solen diphos, Gmelin (= S. radiata, Blainv.). Aldus (sp.), Oken, 

 1815. Hiatula (sp.), Modeer, 1793. Solenotellina, Morch, 1853. 



Shell moderately large, transverse, elongated or oval, equi valve, 

 inequilateral, compressed, gaping at both extremities, with a greenish 

 epidermis ; the anterior end typically shorter, rounded ; beaks not 

 prominent ; hinge with 1 or 2 small cardinal teeth in each valve ; 

 ligament short, very thick, inserted on very strong nymphs ; pallial 

 sinus narrowing to a point in front, below wholly confluent with the 

 pallial line ; pallial impression rude and irregular. 



Distribution. -Indian Ocean, Philippines, Australasia. 



Fossil. Tertiary. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



A. Anterior end considerably longer, the posterior end subangulated 



at the middle ; colour purplish-olive . . . . . . nitida. 



B. Anterior end but little longer, the posterior end obliquely trun- 



cated ; colour yellowish and greenish-brown . . . . . . siliqua. 



1. Soletellina nitida, Gray, 1843. Plate 62, fig. 11. 



Psammobia nitida, Gray, Dieff. N.Z., 253. Soletellina nitida, Gray, Conch. 

 Icon., x, 1857, f. 6 ; Grit. List, 41 ; Ereb. & Ter., 5, pi. 2, f. 9 ; Hutton, 

 J. de Conch., xxvi, 47 ; M.N.Z.M., 142. Hiatula nitida, Gray, C.M.M., 66 ; 

 Hutton, P.L.S. N.S.W., ix, 520. Solenotellina nitida, Gray, Index, 89. 



Shell rather small, inequilateral, compressed, oval, oblong, sub- 

 angulated posteriorly, thin, purplish-olive, almost quite smooth, 

 polished. Beaks very small, contiguous, slightly excavated behind. 

 Anterior side longer and much broader, convex, the dorsal margin 

 long, straight, or lightly convex, very little descending ; posterior end 

 narrow, tapering, subangulated at the middle, the dorsal margin convex 

 and slowly descending ; ventral margin broadly rounded and faintly 

 concave posteriorly. Sculpture consisting of concentric growth-lines 

 and very fine microscopic radial strife. Epidermis transparent, 

 yellowish-brown, shining. Colour purple at the umbones, yellowish- 

 olive with violet concentric bands outside, with 2 light whitish radial 

 very oblique posterior rays. Interior with a white callosity in the 

 umbonal cavity and between the scars, light violet outside it. Margins 

 thin and sharp, smooth, the epidermis extending a little beyond. 

 Hinge narrow, with fairly strong nymphs, right valve with 2 cardinals, 

 the posterior sometimes very small ; left valve 2 cardinals, the anterior 

 fairly strong, the posterior a thin triangularly raised lamella. Liga- 



