70 Records of the Indian Museum. [Vol. XIX^ 



Geii. Azor, Gra}^ 



1782-93. Solen (pars), Linne, Sysf. Nat., ed. XII, pp 3223, 3227. 

 1835. Solen (pars), Lamarck, Hist. Nat. Aiiiyn. Sans. Vert., VI, pp. 51, 



59- 

 1847. Azor, Leach, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. XX, p. 272. 

 1851. Azor, Leach, Gray, Cut. Brit. Miis., VII, p. 62. 

 1858. Subg-en. Azor, Gray (Gen. Madia), .\dams, Gen. Recent Moll., 



I lip- 347- 



1874. Soleciirtiis coarctatiis, Reeve, Concli. Icon., XIX, fig^ 8. 



18S7. Subg-en Azor, Gray (Gen. Solecitrtiis), Fischer, Man. Conch., 



p. 1 107, 

 iS8c). Solectirtt'.s (pars), Clessin, Martini-Chemniiz, Conch. Cab., XI, 



{Solenacea), p. 85. 



The anatomy of two species of Azor {A. antiquatus and A . coarc- 

 tatus) has been described by Bloomer (16). 1 have a specimen of 

 A. coarctatiis. Gmel. from the Persian Gulf. The present diagno.sis 

 is drawn from the animal in my possession as well as from Bloomer's 

 descriptions. 



Animal. Body comparatively short, deep, and strongh^ 

 constricted laterally near the centre of the ventral surface. Pedal 

 aperture occupying the anterior margin and nearl)^ half the ventral 

 margin of the mantle lobes. Posterior half of the ventral margins 

 of the mantle lobes fused to form a wide surface. Cruciform 

 muscle typically cross-shaped. Siphonal tubes long and separate. 

 with a very short fused proximal portion prolonged backwards. 

 vStrongly developed retractor siphonal muscles. Two longitudinal 

 folds on the inner surface of each mantle lobe, which terminate in 

 the pedal aperture anteriorly, and enclose a portion of the mantle 

 cavity behind by their united posterior end, continuous with the 

 ventral wall of the siphon. A tentacular fringe all round the 

 anterior, ventral and posterior margins of the mantle from the 

 anterior to the posterior adductor muscle. 



Anterior adductor muscle deep and elongated, placed ob- 

 liquely, much longer (from side to side) ventrally than dorsalh'. 

 Posterior adductor muscle large and nearly rounded. Foot large, 

 short and deep. Labial palps small, somewhat elongated and 

 triangular in shape. Gills much elongated, narrow and prolonged 

 into the branchial siphon ; cloacal portion forming half the entire 

 length of the gill. Inner lamella of the inner gill attached to the 

 side of the visceral mass in front and to its fellow of the opposite 

 side behind. Well-developed branchial retractor muscles. Stomach 

 without central portion. Pyloric stomach produced posteriorly 

 as a blind sac beyond the origin of the coecum. Coecum of the 

 crystalline style short and straight, passing downward and slightU' 

 forward to the ventral aspect. Intestine with closely placed folds 

 in the upper portion of its posterior limb. Viscero-parietal ganglia 

 placed at the antero-ventral edge of the posterior adductor muscle. 



The .specimen of A. coarctatus at my disposal differs from 

 Bloomer's specimen in the following points. The animal is some- 

 what smaller in size ; both the siphonal tubes are shorter and the 

 posterior end of the body is more tapering than in Bloomer's speci- 

 men. 



