Wedge-shells, Venus-shells, and Cockles i 3 5 



The I'ollowiii*,^ four species, tliougli belonoing to tlie 

 same family, form the genus Tapes, and are famil- 

 iarly known as Carpet-shells from the colour-markings 

 suggesting the patterns of tapestry. The shells are 

 solid, more rhomboidal than triangular, and the 

 beaks are set very near the front extremity. This 

 character, combined with the shape of the shell, is 

 sufficient to determine the genus, and the four native 

 species are so distinct from each other that they may 

 be readily identified. 



The Golden Carpet-shell (T. aureus) is yellowish 

 white with little gloss. Finely incised, crowded but 

 shallow lines run from the beaks to 

 the margins, and are broken by the 

 very distinct bands marking periods 

 of growth, and which are often 

 greyish in tint. The margins of the 

 shell are quite plain. It is confined ^^^^..^i^ds nat. size) 

 chiefly to our south and west coasts 

 in sandy gravel between 3 and 18 fathoms. The 

 Banded Carpet-shell (T. virgineus) is more dis- 

 tinctly oblong than the last. The exterior of this 

 shell has polish, though it is not very 

 glossy. The surface scarcely appears 

 broken by the flattened, close-pressed 

 ribs, which are slightly rounded only 

 at the front and back. The ground 



Banded Carpet-shell ^ |q^^ jg P^je velloW, OVCrlald with 



(one-fourth nat. size) ^ 1 ■, , f t i 



dots, spots, and splashes or purplish 

 brown, wliich are arranged in about three wedge- 

 shaped masses, leaving clear rays between them. 

 The glossy interior is tinged with yellow, orange, 

 or purple in its upper half. The margin of the 



