52 TELLINA. 



wedge-shaped form, or if it be crooked. But 

 the primary teeth are still in cither case to be at- 

 tended to; for they constitute the best^ though not 

 always the most obvious, criterion. 



It is worthy of remark, tliat the bend or fold of 

 the extremity of the compressed slope is, without 

 any exception, towards the left valve ; that is, to- 

 wards the right hand of the observer when the 

 shell is placed upon its base with the area in 

 front. 



The Tellinae are found buried in the sand or fine 

 gravel of the sea sliorc, some of them in rivers or 

 wet ditches. 



TsXiu), from whence Tellina has been derived, 

 places but an ill dcfmcd limit to the tribe, as it will 

 include all shells which arrive quickly at maturily. 

 It is difficult to imagine why the namewas originally 

 adopted, or why it has been retained by almost all 

 Conchologists. 



