230 ANATINID^. 



very numerous upon the larger valve, especially beyond the 

 umbonal ridge. The ventral or lower edge is incurved near 

 the middle, but decidedly convex in front. Both the upper 

 or dorsal edges are convex in outline, and slope greatly, 

 especially the front one which thus attenuates the rounded 

 extremity of the anterior side. The termination of the 

 hinder side, which is barely the longer and most obtusely 

 wedge-shaped, is rather peculiar in its contour, the upper 

 end of the convex posterior edge projecting further outward 

 than the lower one. The beaks, which are incurved and re- 

 flected, press most closely upon each other, and the umbones, 

 which are tumid, are elevateil far above the dorsal line. 

 In front of them, upon the opposite side to the extremely 

 short ligament, the shell, which elsewhere upon the anterior 

 side is distinctly the more ventricose, is retuse. The um- 

 bonal ridge, that is to say, the obsolete fold which stretches 

 posterior- ward from the beaks to the end of the ventral 

 margin, is rounded but very distinct. The hinge-plate is 

 extremely narrow, and the ossicle very small. 



Large examples attain to an inch and a half in breadth, 

 and nearly two inches and a half in length. 



The S. Devonshire coast has produced the greater part 

 of the specimens existing in cabinets. In Torbay (S. H.) 

 it is occasionally, though very rarely, brought in by the 

 trawlers, who know it by the name of the Golden hen^ pos- 

 sibly in allusion to the comparatively high price they have 

 obtained for it, or perhaps solely in consequence of its rich 

 yellow colouring. Mr. Clark, whose dredging of shells upon 

 the Devonshire coast extended over a long series of years, 

 remarks that it is obtained at Teignmouth by trawling, and 

 at Exmouth is taken in the dredge ; but the specimens are 

 always (in the latter case) small, and rarely if ever alive. 

 Mr. M'Andrew and Professor Forbes procured it in Corn- 



