238 142 



Long. 12—53 mm. 



Distribution: — Bintang, Mergui Archip., Andamans, Madras, Ceylon, Gulf 

 of Manaar, Malabar Coast from Goa to Bombay, Karachi, Persian Gulf, Aden. — 

 Annam, Poulo Penang, China, Philippines, Moluccas, Torres Strait, Port Molle. 



''Venus gallus, Spengler," which J. S. Schröter ^ correctly gives as a synonym, 

 cannot, as suggested by Römer' and Pfeiffer,-' have the priority of Chemnitz's 

 name, ^ as V. gallus is merely a museum-name. Upon the label attached to Spengler's 

 specimens of T. malabaricus (which are now in the Museum of the University of 

 Copenhagen) is written in Spengler's handwriting: "Venus Gallus Forskaal" and 

 reference is made to Chemnitz, Conchyl. Cabin., VI; neither Forskål nor Spengler 

 have published the name before Chemnitz. 



As is well-known, this species varies considerably both in regard to form and 

 sculpture; from the Gulf of Siam were collected both the oblong (long. 465 mm., alt. 

 325 mm.), and the high and relatively shorter form (long. 54 mm., alt. 42 mm.); 

 as also individuals with very close-set and fine transverse ribs, and others with 

 coarse, broad and flat transverse ribs. 



Tapes (Protapes) sinuosus, Lam. 



Venus simiosa, Lamarck, Hist. nat. d. anim. s. vert., V, 1818, p. 604, No. 72. — éd. 2, VI, 183.5, p. 366, No. 72. 

 Tapes — — SowERBY, Thesaurus Conchyl., 11, p. 683, No. 14, pi. 145, fig. 10. 



— — — Reeve, Conchol. icon.. XIV, Tapes, Sp, 18. 



— {Textrix) sinuosa, Lamarck, Römer, Monogr. d. Molluskengatt. Venus, U, p. 35, No. 16, pi. 11, fig. 1. 



— Malabaricus, Chemnitz var. sinuosus, Lamarck, Martens, Journ. of the Linnean Societj', XXI, 1887, 



pp. 213—14. 



E. of Cape Liant, 9 fathoms, shells (2). S. of Koh Chuen, 30 fathoms, shells (3). 

 Between Koh Kut and Koh Kahdat, 10 fathoms, shells (V2). 



Long. 24—36 mm. 



Distribution: — Salang, Mergui Archip. — China, "Australia". 



T. sinuosus, Lam., is nearly allied to T. malabaricus, Chemn., but among the 

 material at my disposal it has always been easy to distinguish these two forms. 

 The most conspicuous distinguishing feature in T. sinuosus, is the large "Tellina- 

 curvature" which causes the hinder end to be abruptly truncated. The transverse 

 ribs are narrow and thin, high, sharp and lamellate and are continued over the 

 lunule and the area. The interstices between the ribs are deep, broad, and regular. 

 Whether these features are constant, future investigations will show. 



Tapes (Hemitapes) hiantinus, Lam. 



Venus hiantina, Lamarck, Hist. nat. d. anira. s. vert., V, 1818, p. 593, No. 32. — éd. 2, VI, p. 350, No. 32. 

 — — — Delessert, Recueil de coquilles décr. p. Lamarck, pi. 10, fig. 8. 



1 Einleit. in d. Conchylienkeniitniss, 111, 1786, p. 159, No. 14. 



- Krit. Unters, d. Arten d. Molluskengeschl. Venus. 1856, p. 68. 



^ Martini u. Chemnitz, Conchyl. Cabin., XI Bd., 1 Abth., p. 176. 



* Gmelin, Syst. Nat., cd. XIII, p. 3277, has also adopted the name "Gailus." 



