IS 

 SOLECURTUS. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 1 t>iti 



Shell eqiiivalved, oval elongated, gaping at the 

 extremities, which are obtusely rounded ; hinge and 

 basal margins nearly parallel ; apex distant from the 

 extremity and not prominent; muscular impressions 

 two, remote and distinct; teeth variable, generally 

 imperfect. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



This genus, which connects Solen with Sanguin- 

 olaria^ was instituted by Blainville to receive a group 

 of shells, which have characters quite distinct from 

 the Solcns although they are closely allied to them : 

 the rounded muscular impressions, and the sinuous 

 impression of the mantle, indicate an anatomical dif- 

 ference in the animal, suflicient to warrant the con- 

 struction of a genus for their reception. The hinge 

 is never terminal like that of the Salens, with which 

 genus perhaps the Solecurius legumen of Blainville 

 will form the connecting link. Blainville divide*: 

 this genus into three parts, viz. 



A. Compressed, thin, with an internal rib ob- 

 liquely decurrent from the apex to the basal margin ; 

 Sohn radiatiis, Lin. ((leiius Siliqua, Megerle; Le- 

 guminaria and Siliquaria, Sebum.) 



B. More cylindrical and destitute of the internal 

 rib, Solen strigillafus, Lin. 



C. IVIorp elongated and subulate, S. kgumen, Lin- 



