282 DIMYARIA.—TELLINADZ. 
FaMILyY TELLINADA. 
(Tellens.) 
This is a family very numerous in species, which 
are generally remarkable for the elegance of their 
form, the delicacy of their texture, and the bril- 
liancy of their colour. The shell is generally much 
compressed, greatly produced in breadth, regular, 
and nearly equal-sided. ‘The hinder side, which is 
often angular, has an irregular bend or fold at its 
lower border, more or less conspicuous. The beaks 
are very small, the hinge varies much, the ligament 
is swollen and lengthened, the pallial impression 
deeply hollowed. In general the valves are exceed- 
TELLINA. 
ingly thin and fragile, but painted with the most 
beautiful colours, often arranged in elegant pat- 
terns. 
The animal has the mantle moderately open, 
