406 MOLLUSCA. 
TELLINA compra (Gould). 
T. parva, transversa, mequilateralis, alba vel rubescens, quater roseo- 
vadiata; apicibus ad trientem posticum sitis; latere antico semi- 
elliptico; latere siphonah triangulart apice truncato, viz insculpto, 
plicato; marginibus (scilicet dorsal et ventrah), fere parallelis ; disco 
strtis concentricis et strits obhquis arato ; dentibus laterahbus nulls ; 
intus ex albo flavescens, radiatim striata. 
Tellina_compta, Goutp; Proceed. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., i. 253, 
June 1850. Expedition Shells, 79. 
SHELL small, transverse, rather ventricose, inequilateral, white, with 
four delicate rays of rose-colour, within and without, shining, with 
delicate, concentric striz, crossed by oblique striw, which extend to 
the fold posteriorly, and to near the upper anterior margin ; anterior 
end twice the length of the posterior; margins (ventral and dorsal) 
nearly parallel, regularly rounded at extremities; basal margin slightly 
arcuated, posterior end triangular ; dorsal margin very oblique, outline 
gibbous ; fold scarcely perceptible; cardinal teeth two in one valve, 
one in the other, bifid; lateral teeth wanting; within white, varied 
with cream-colour, radiately striate; somewhat gaping posteriorly. 
Length five-eighths of an inch; height one-third of an inch; breadth 
one-third of an inch. 
Almost precisely like T. decora, which has a well-marked lateral 
tooth, and comes from the West Indies. T. rhomboides, Quoy, varies 
chiefly in the more partial development of oblique strie. The colour- 
ing is less brilliant, and the striz more delicate, more oblique, and 
cover a greater portion of the valve than 7. /auta, though of the same 
size and form. 
Figure 515, lateral view of the shell, enlarged; 515 a, interior of the 
shell; 515 4, the back of the shell, in outline. 
