156 



Shell Life 



end, and the remainder cover the hinder end. The 

 colour is yellowish white, and the epidermis is 

 brownish yellow. The hinge is strengthened by a 

 shelf -like rib on which are — in the right valve two 

 strong curved cardinals, in the left one cardinal and 

 a short lateral behind it. This is a local species 

 found in sand in from 20 to 85 fathoms, but some- 

 times being taken from a little below the extreme 

 limits of low water. 



The Smooth Short Razor (>S'. antiquatiis) has the 

 shell more compressed, the ribs and lines less 

 distinct; the colour white, epidermis yellow-brown. 

 The cardinals are larger, with jagged crests. It is 



Egg-shell Razor 



found sparingly on all our sandy shores in from 4 to 

 50 fathoms. 



The Egg-shell Razor (Ceratisolen leijiiinen) occupies 

 a position between the Short Razors and the Razor- 

 shells (Solni), having the beaks almost central as in 

 the former, but the shell material is similar to that 

 of Solen, as also ai-e the teeth. The shell is semi- 

 transparent and glossy, finely grooved in the line of 

 growth, and yellowish white in colour. Epidermis 

 pale or deep j^ellow ; thinner and paler above. There 

 are two cardinals in the left valve, and one in the 

 right that fits between them ; the laterals are one in 

 each valve, a little behind the cardinals. The 

 interior is pearly white, faintly marked by the 



