284 DIMYARIA.—SOLENID&. 
indicates, in sand covered by the sea, from the water’s 
edge to great depths. They are 
said to be active in their motions, 
burrowing with rapidity and ease 
in the sandy bed of the sea. 
We have several British species, 
one of the most elegant of which 
is sometimes called by collectors 
the Setting Sun (Psammobia ves- 
pertina), from its warm pink hue, 
and the pale bands which radiate 
from the beaks to all parts of the 
margin, like the rays which fre- 
quently stretch across the sky 
from the evening horizon. This 
Species is commonly about two 
inches in breadth, and is not at 
all uncommon, burrowing beneath 
the surface near low-water mark 
on most of our sandy beaches, 
where the detached valves washed 
on shore by the tides are often 
picked up, and always admired. 
FAMILY SOLENIDZ. 
(Razor Shells.) 
Every one who has_ paced 
along the water's edge on a 
sandy beach, is familiar with the 
shells which form the type of this 
family. ‘Their extreme narrow- 
ness and length, (or, to speak 
strictly, shortness and breadth,) 
peammontA vEevbear we, Chel parallel sides and irmieste 
