-shells^ Venus-shells, and Cockles 1 1 9 



with foot and siphons 

 extended 



between its colouring and that of the pomegranate- 

 flower. It is a thin almost transparent shell, some- 

 Avhat swollen and of a triangular-oval outline. The 

 surface is slightly polished, marked by exceedingly 

 fine lines and slightly raised concentric plates, which, 

 however, have in many specimens been rubbed off. 

 The colour is white, delicately tinged with yellow, 

 whilst from the 

 beaks to 

 lower margin 

 faint streaks of 

 pink radiate. 

 The beaks are 

 small, incurved, 

 and almost 

 touch. The epi- 

 dermis is thin 

 and iridescent. The interior, which is tinged with 

 orange, is polished. It is about 1 inch in length. 

 The animal is semi-transparent, greyish white, with 

 transparent tubes. It is an inhabitant of fine sand 

 in deep water (18 to 80 fathoms); but although 

 generally distributed in the Mediterranean, and found 

 in many parts of the North Atlantic, it does not 

 appear to be plentiful anywhere on our shores. It 

 has been found at Falmouth, in the Moray Firth, at 

 Stornoway, Skye, Shetland, and in Birterbury Bay, 

 County Galway. 



The Blunt Tellin {T. crassa) has a yellowish-white 

 shell with faint pink rays from the beaks to the lower 

 margin, and marked by numerous strong concentric 

 ribs. The left valve is much flatter than the right. 

 In young specimens the shell may be found covered 



