5 I 8 LITHOPHAGINjE. 



Sub-fam. LITHOPHAGIN^. 



Hinder part of mantle more or less produced ; anterior 

 adductor muscle moderate. 



Genus LITHOPHAGA, Bolten. 



Shell transverse, cylindrically oblong, equivalve, extre- 

 mities rounded, the anterior exceedingly short ; surface of 

 valves covered with a brown, horny epidermis ; beaks 

 slightly prominent. Hinge linear, edentulous ; ligament 

 marginal, chiefly internal. Muscular impression, com- 

 pound, indistinct. 



Syn. Tamarindiformis (a), Gevers. Lithophagus, Miihlf. 

 Perna, Olcen, not Adans. Lithodomus, Cuvier. 



Ex. L. lithoglypha, Meuschen, pi. 121, fig. 5. Shell, L. 

 dactylus, Sowerby, fig. 5, a, 5, b. 



Cuvier says that the Lithophagm in the young state sus- 

 pend themselves to rocks by a byssus ; when adult they form 

 cavities shaped like the shells in rocks, or in other shells. 

 L. dactylus is an article of diet in the Mediterranean, being 

 eagerly collected by the fishermen and sold as a luxury in 

 the markets. The species are somewhat numerous, and are 

 inhabitants chiefly of the West Indian Islands and of New 

 Zealand. Dr. Carpenter says that the outer shell-layer 

 has a tubular structure, the tubes being excessively 

 minute, seldom branching, and oblique and parallel. 



Species of Lithophaga. 



appendiculata, Phil. calyculata, Cpr. 



aristata, Soland. canalifera, Haul. 



atteuuata, Desk. caperata, Phil. 



bisulcata, D'Orb. Caribsea, Phil. 



