TELLINA. 309 



The few specimens which have been dredged in Britain 

 are much smaller than the exotic ones, none which we have 

 seen exceeding three-quarters of an inch in length, and 

 about half an inch in breadth. 



It is a very rare shell, and wholly confined to North 

 Britain, where as yet no living example has been taken. 

 Indeed, in desj)ite of the beautiful state of preservation in 

 which the valves are found, we would not vouch for their 

 not being fossils ; the species is, however, most certainly 

 found in a living state a little more northward, being an 

 inhabitant of the shores of Sweden and the colder parts 

 of Europe as well as of the United States of America. 

 The small but perfect and fresh-looking valve delineated 

 in our engraving was dredged by Mr. Jeffreys in fifty- 

 three fathoms water off Croulin's Island, Skye ; Mr. M'An- 

 drew has likewise obtained two valves from Loch Fyne, 

 and Mr. Macgillivray relates that a decayed one was 

 brought up by the lines off Aberdeen. As a fossil it is 

 well known, commencing its existence in the coralline crag. 

 During the pleistocene epoch it was widely spread and 

 plentiful, occurring in Sweden, Russia, and Canada, be- 

 sides our own seas. The retrocession of glacial conditions 

 probably caused its retirement northwards. 



T. BiMAcuLATA, Liuuseus. 



Tdlina himaculata, Linn. Syst. Nat. p. 1120. — Da Costa, Brit. Conch, p. 213. 



— PuLTENEY, Hutchins, Hist. Dorset, p. 70. — Donov. 

 Brit. Shells, vol. i. pi. 19, f. 1. — Mont. Test. Brit. p. G9. 



— Linn. Trans, vol. viii. p. 57. — Dorset Catalog, p. 31, 

 pi. 5,f. 7.— TuRT. Conch. Diction, p. 178.— Turt. Dithyr. 

 Brit. p. 104, pi. 8, f. 5. — Flem. Brit. Anim. p. 435. — 

 Brit. Marine Conch, p. 68. — Chemn. Conch, Cab. vol. vi. 

 p. 132, pi. 13, f. 127, 132. — Dillw. Recent Shells, vol. i. 

 p. 101. — Lam. Anim. s. Vert. (ed. Desh.) vol, vi. p. 207. — 



