384 



SHELLS AND SHELL-FISH. 



PART II. 



Family 3. AVICULID^. Muscles and Pearl Oysters. 



Animal attached, byssiferous ; shells lamellar, internally 

 perlaceous; the valves generally gaping. [Jig. 126.) 



Mytilus Linn. Oblong, transverse ; the bosses small, 

 close to the anterior margin; both extremities rounded; 

 hinge margin straight, and generally forming an angle ; 

 valves not always gaping ; teeth (except in Brachi- 

 dontes) none. 



Brachidontes Sw. Umbones prominent, not terminal ; 

 valves corrugated ; hinge margin considerably angu 

 lated ; teeth many, small, and crenate. 

 sulcata. En. Meth. 220. f. 2. 



Modiola Lam. Resembling the last, but the hinge 

 without teeth, and the shell smooth ; valves slightly 

 gaping, {fig. 126. h.) 



M. tulipa. Sow. Gen. f. ] 60. 



Lithodomus Cuv. Animal perforating ; shell oblong, 

 ventri<*ose, nearly cylindrical ; the hinge margin no|; 



