30 



Shell Life 



depth of a few fathoms. The Smooth Artemis 

 (Z). lupina) is similar to the Rayed Artemis, but 

 smaller, smoother, and less round 

 in outline. The sides and lower 

 margin may be, indeed, in Jeffreys' 

 words " an arc of three-fifths of a 

 circle." The animal is greyish 

 white in colour, the mantle-margins 

 fringed with short tentacles. The 

 siphons are united except at the 

 mouths, and are capable of extension to three times 

 the length of the shell, showing that this species is in 

 the habit of burrowing more deeply than the previous 

 one. It is equally common, and may be found as 

 near as low-water mark on sandy ground. 



The Smooth Venus (Venus chione) is one of the 

 finest of our native species ; its thick, heavy shells 



Smooth Artemis 



Smooth Venu 



being nearly 4 inches in longest diameter. Its shape 

 is described as triangular-oval. In colour it is a light 

 pinkish brown, with a varying number of narrow 

 rays of darker hue from th(i beaks to the lower 



