112 VENERID^E. 



young, in which state it forms the A. minutissima of authors. 

 The general colour of the animal is white; the mantle is 

 largely open, with plain margins. There are no siphons ; the 

 anal orifice is sessile. I am unable to say if there is a distinct 

 aperture for branchial functions. The mantle may be entirely 

 open to the anal conduit, receiving the water throughout the 

 ventral range. The foot is finger-shaped, and when much 

 exserted a posterior geniculation is seen ; it is hyaline, mixed 

 with snow-Avhite flakes. No other organs could be seen ; in- 

 deed its minuteness will not allow of any remarks on the 

 branchial structure. The animal was lively, and on the march 

 turned from one side to the other. 



Taken in the coralline zone at Exmouth, 1852. 



VEKEBID.E. 



This beautiful and numerous family, if we take into account 

 the exotic species, is, as regards the British indigena, confined 

 to very moderate dimensions, and in our method only includes 

 the two genera, Venus and Pullastra. With our views of the 

 unnecessary and artificial extension, by the moderns, of many 

 of the Linnaean genera, with scarcely a trace of difference of 

 essential animal organization to support them, for surely a 

 tooth more or less is not an essential point, we entirely 

 concur with M. Deshayes in merging Cytherea in Venus. We 

 examined, about twenty years ago, at Exmouth, a full-grown 

 live specimen of the Cytherean type, the Venus Chione, but 

 we can offer few remarks on its specialties, as, unfortunately, 

 notes were not made on it ; at present we only observe, that 

 it is as decidedly a typical Venus in every essential point as 

 any of the race. We have also no hesitation in consigning 

 the Artemis of authors as a section of the Veneres, though 

 it is said that the foot and coalition of the siphoiial tubes vary 

 from Venus ; but having repeatedly seen the V. exoleta, the 

 type, alive, we can state, that its organs are of the same con- 

 figuration. The V. lincta has not been met with, and is the 



