96 THE MOLLUSCA OF THE FIRTH OF CLYDE. 
FAMILY CypR&IDE, Fleming. 
Crprma, Linné. 
Cyprzea Europzea, Montagu. 
Cypreea pediculus, Linné (part); Concha Veneris, &c., Lister ; 
Cypreea arctica, Pulteney; Cypreea coccinella, Lamarck ; 
Cypreea Norvegica, Sars. 
Habitat—On rocky and bouldery bottoms, whence it is 
difficult to obtain live specimens; dead shells are sometimes 
thrown on the beach in considerable numbers, especially in 
sandy bays which are intersected or bounded by reefs of 
rocks, such as Machrihanish Bay and the south end of Kin- 
tyre, the south end of Arran and the Ayrshire coast. In 
Cumbrae I have dredged live specimens on the rough bank 
off Shellbole Bay, and have taken one specimen at low water 
on Farland Point. This latter had a pale yellow mantle 
decorated with orange warts, which it exhibited to perfec- 
tion for a few hours in the aquarium, but speedily becoming 
sick or exhausted, it was delivered over to the vivisectionist 
for the sake of its lingual ribband. Lister tells us that the 
Concha Veneris was called “ Nun” in his day; our Lowland 
children call them “ Groats,” or as Jeffreys puts it—“John 
oGroats’ buckies”; the Highland youngsters name them 
“ Maidens.” Aldrovandus, although a sage, was scarcely less 
fanciful than our children, but his explanation of how the 
name Concha venerea arose will not bear translation.t The 
genus figures in the early pharmacopeia, and Olaus Wormius 
says that it was recarded as a specific for whooping cough. 
British distribution.—Throughout all our coasts on hard 
ground, being found living from low water mark to all depths. 
Dead shells are thrown up on sandy shores in great numbers. 
Foreign localities—From Norway (Lovén, and others) to 
Spain and Portugal (‘dA ndrew), the Mediterranean, Adriatic, 
and Aigean (Nares, and others). 
ORDER PLEUROBRANCHIATA, Gray. 
FamiILty BuLiip#, Clark. 
CYLICHNA, Lovén. 
Cylichna acuminata, Brugueeére. 
Bulla acuminata, Bruguiére; Ovula acuminata, Forbes and 
Hanley. 
Habitat—In muddy sand mixed with nullipore, 10 
+ Concha Venerea sic dicta quia partem foemineam quodam modo 
representat : externe quidem per labiorum fissuram, interne vero propter 
cavitatem uterum meutientem.—Aldrovandi Opera, De exsanguibus. 
