ANATINA. 143 



serted are sprinkled with minute red-brown points ; the anal 

 siphon is conically pointed, and protrudes the usual hyaline 

 tubular valve ; the branchial is truncate. The branchiae are 

 narrow, elongated, pale brown, and composed of only one 

 lamina, on each side, which have all the incidents of that 

 organ in A. pliaseolina, to which we refer; but there are two 

 distinct palpi, that are long, narrow triangular, pointed, pecti- 

 nated within, and less so 011 the outer surface, of a similar 

 colour as the branchiae. We believe that most of these 

 animals emit byssal filaments. These notes show that this 

 species is in close accordance with its congeners ; the testa- 

 ceous subtriangular ossicle of the hinge emphatically pro- 

 nounces it a member of the Anatinte. The lustrous aspect of 

 the interior of the valves has been considered of greater im- 

 portance than it deserves; that character may indicate an 

 affinity with Pandora, but, as far as regards generic consi- 

 derations, is of little value. Nothing can outweigh the cha- 

 racters of the ossicle and single compound branchial lamina 

 on each side the body ; these indelibly mark the position of 

 the present species. 



This very elegant object is often taken in the coral zone at 

 Exmouth. In empty shells the ossicle is absent ; but we have 

 at certain seasons captured many live specimens. The sandy 

 coat with which the shell is clothed for the protection of the 

 animal must be removed before all its beauty can be seen. 



A. CUSPIDATA, nobis. 



A. brevirostris, Brown. 



Tellina cuspiduta, Olivi. 



Necera cuspiduta, Brit. Moll. i. p. 195, pi. 7- f- 4,5,6; (animal) pi. G. 



f. 4, 5, 6, 7- 

 N. costellata, Brit. Moll. i. p. 199, pi. 7- f. 8, 9 ; (animal) pi. G. 



f. 8, 9. 

 N. abbreviate^ Brit. Moll. i. p. 201, pi. 7. f- 7- 



We have no hesitation in relieving the British list from the 

 genus Neeera ; indeed we have no choice, as its only species is 

 a strict Anatina the Thracia of the moderns having the 

 crescent-shaped, or in this case, the double paralleled sub- 



