226 ASTARTID A). 
Distr.—Recent and Cretaceous; N. Am., Eur. £. wmbonata, 
Gabb (exxi, 11-13). 
Shell suborbicular, moderately compressed, with pointed, 
approximate beaks, with a deep narrow lunule, in external 
character resembling Dosinia; muscular impressions large, but 
not deeply impressed, pallial sinus moderate, roundish, slightly 
ascending; hinge strong, in the right valve with two cardinal 
teeth, the central one strong and thick, often grooved, the 
anterior thinner and marginal; in the left valve also with two 
cardinal teeth, the subanterior thick, the posterior thinner ; one 
small anterior lateral (lunule) tooth of the left valve fits into a 
corresponding pit of the right, and another small longish pos- 
terior and remote one of this valve into a corresponding cavity 
of the left valve. The best known species is Lucina lenticularis, 
Goldf., from the ecretaceous beds near Aachen. 
This is a very different shell from Dosinia as regards hinge- 
teeth as well as the form of the pallial sinus. It appears very 
probable that some of the Jurassic Astartes (A. excavatum and 
others), belong to this genus, but a very careful examination of 
the hinge and of the pallial line, which is broad, though very 
faint, and also of its sinus, will be necessary. The hinge-teeth 
of Eriphyla closely approach those of Astarte, but these have no 
distinct lateral teeth, nor a deep lunule or sinus. It is now 
generally recognized as a Crassatellid genus. 
Famity ASTARTIDA. 
Shell thick, solid, equivalve, the cardinal teeth always well- 
developed, 2-3 in each valve; lateral teeth sometimes present on 
one or both sides, ligament always external, strong; muscular 
scars ovate, the anterior usually with a small deep superimposed 
pit, produced by the retractile muscle of the foot; pallial line 
entire. 
SuspraMity ASTARTINA. 
Shell subtrigonal or roundly oval, with a smooth, concentric- 
ally striated or suleated surface. 
ASTARTE, Sowerby, 1816. 
Etym.—Astarte, the Syrian Venus. 
Syn.—Crassina, Lamarck, 1818. Tridonta, Schum., 1817. 
Goodallia, Turton, 1822 (part). 
Distr.—20 sp. Behring’s Straits, Wellington Channel, Kara 
Sea, Ochotsk, United States, Norway, Britain, Canaries, Aigean; 
30-112 fathoms. Fossil, 285 sp. Carb.—; North and South 
America, Europe, Thibet. A. semisulcata, Leach (exxii, 34). A. 
Danmoniensis (exxiii, 123). 
