ii6 Records of tlic Indian Mjisciiui. [\'ci . XXII 



Above the siphonal orifice, which terminates about the middle of 

 the posterior adductor muscle, the two flaps are again united in- 

 timately as on the anterior margin. 



Of the two siphons the upper or the anal siphon is about two- 

 thirds the size of the lower or branchial siphon. Both the 

 siphons are fully retracted in the preserved specimens, but from 

 their structure appear to be sufficiently extensile. The anal 

 siphon has only a single circle of papillae surrounding the orifice, 

 but the branchial has in addition another circle of much larger 

 papillae situated inside the smaller papillae. Both the siphons 

 are of a dark brown colour. 



The two adductor muscles are of about the same size, but 

 the posterior is more internally situated. The retractor muscles 

 are similar to those of Corhicula. The radiating muscles of the 

 mantle have already been mentioned ; the\' arise from the palleal 

 line and are connected with the papillae of the mantle. The 

 siphonal retractor fibres are distinctly marked off from the rest 

 and are connected with the siphonal sinus. 



The attachments of the two pairs of gills are similar to those 

 in the genus Corhicula except that a very narrow chink-like opening 

 is distinguishable between the united edge of the inner lamellae of 

 the inner pair of gills and the foot. The outer pair of gills is much 

 narrower than the inner pair particularly in the anterior half. 



The two pairs of palps are rather narrow, elongately triangu- 

 lar in outline ; they are attached at the base with the apex point- 

 ing backwards and downwards. The surface of the palps is 

 marked with very fine transverse ridges. 



The abdominal mass is comparatively small, while the foot is 

 of a fair size, not very thick, triangular and acutely pointed at 

 the apex. 



Var. cochinensis (Hanley). 

 Plate XV, figs. 5—8. 



185S. Cvrena cochinensis, Hanlev, Pruc. Zool. Soc. London XX\"I. p. 



-S-l-3- 

 i860. Cyyena corbicn/ifonnis, Priint-. Proc. Acad. Xiit. Sci. Pliiladel- 



phia. p. 80. 

 i860. Corbiciila Qiiilon'icu. Benson, Ann. Mag. iXiit. Hist.. ,^rd ser. 



V'l, p. 260. 

 1866. Velorita cochinensis, Hanle\-. Ann. Lye. A'at. Hist. Soc. Aexo 



Foj-4- VII, p. 236, Hg. 6C. ■ 

 1S70. Velorita cochinensis. Prime, op. cit , p. 141. 



1878. Velorita cochiiiensis. Sowerb)', op. cit., p. I, figs. 2a, 2b. 



1879. Velorita cochinensis, Clessin, op. cit., p. 225, pi. .\.\xvi. fijjs. 5, 6. 

 U)1,S. Velorita cochinensis, Preston, op. cit., p. 210. 



Hanley's original description is very complete and needs no 

 amplification. With a large collection before me I have found it 

 impossible to consider Hanley's V. cochinensis as a species distinct 

 from V. cyprinoides. The differences, however, are quite sufficient 

 to recognize it as a distinct variety. These are : — (i) more 

 centrally situated and less oblique umbones, (ii) much shorter and 



