TELLINA. 97 



in 1839 he obtained nnmerous single valves in mnd dredged up in 

 New Bedford Harbor. Mr. Say received it from South Carolina. 



This is a distinctly characterized, true TcIIina, and differs from all 

 others of our shores. It is larger than T. tenera, and has not its pol- 

 ished surface. It differs from others principally in its less triangular, 

 strongly warped, and widely gaping posterior portion, and the radi- 

 ating lines within. 



Tellina tenera. 



Fig. 44. 



Shell oblong, sub-oval, thin, white, iridescent, delicately marked by the lines 

 of growth ; inequipartite, shortest and pointed behind ; posterior lateral tooth 

 obsolete. 



Tellina tenera, Say, Journ. Acad Nat. Sc. ii. 303. — De Kay, New York Moll. 209, pi. 

 26, fig. 271. — Stimpso\, Shells of New England, 21. 



Shell small, thin, and delicate, sub-oval, or, if we regard the pos- 

 terior portion, su1>triangular ; slightly longest and semi-oval before 

 the beaks ; the posterior slope sudden and nearly straight, forming 

 a blunted angle by its junction with the base ; marginal ^.^ ^^^ 

 fold well marked ; surface regularly and delicately 

 marked by sharp lines of growth ; color white, or 

 slightly tinged with rose-color, and iridescent ; liga- 

 ment short and prominent; cardinal teeth two in each 

 valve, the posterior one of the left valve rudimentary, the principal 

 one in each valve grooved ; lateral (ooth on the longer side distinct ; 

 that on the shorter side, just behind the ligament, scarcely percep- 

 tible ; sinus of the pallial impression nearly reaching the anterior 

 muscular impression. Length, eleven twentieths of an inch ; height, 

 seven twentieths of an inch ; breadth, live fortieths of an inch. 



Found abundantly cast upon all our sandy beaches, and probably 

 lives not far from low-water mark. Fishing Banks, Nova Scotia, 

 rare (^Willis} . 



It is a very pretty little species, its beauties becoming developed 

 by examination. There are two other species closely allied to it ; 

 the T. polita, which is a somewhat larger and stronger shell, its 

 posterior angle more prolonged and sharper, and its surface smooth, 

 glossy, porcelain-white ; also T. iris, of about the same size, solid- 

 ity, and color, but its surface is marked by oblique grooved lines 

 which at once distinguish it. This is not found on our shores, nor 

 am I certain that T. polita has been. It is not likely to be con- 

 founded with any other shell. 

 7 



