98 KELLIADiR. 



This very curious genus has close affinities with Kellia, 

 but is sufficiently distinct in both shell and animal. As 

 yet, besides the British species, only one other form of it 

 has been described, viz., the Lepton fabagella of Conrad, 

 from the shores of the United States ; there are, however, 

 doubts respecting the true position of the latter. 



L. SQUAMOSUM, Montagu. 



Not minute, flat, contracted above, retuse at the ventral edge ; 

 central tooth very small. 



Plate XXXVI. fig. 8, 9, and (Animal) Plate 0. fig. 6. 



Solen squcanosus, Mont. Test. Brit. p. 565. — Linn. Trans, vol. viii. p. 48. — 

 TuRT. Conch. Diction, p. 164. — Wood, General Conch, p. 

 140. — DiLLW. Eecent Shells, vol. i. p. 70. 

 Lepton squamosum, Turt. Dithyra Brit. p. 6"2, pi. 6, f. 1, 2, 3. — Flem. Brit. 



Anim. p. 429. — Brit. Marine Conch, p. 49. — Brown, 111. 



Conch. G.B. p. Ill, pi. 40, f. 7, (very badly).— Sowerby, 



Conch. Manual, f. 62. 

 Lutraria squamosa. Gray, Annals of Philosoph. 1825. — Hanl. Recent Shells, 



vol. i. p. 28, suppl. pi. 9, f. 47. 

 Lepton sqmwimeux, Chenu, Traite Elem. p. 47, f. 148. 



In whatever point of view we regard the Lepton sqiiamo- 

 sum, whether as almost the sole representative of a rare 

 and (geographically) limited genus, or for the extreme 

 scarcity of its appearance in a perfect state, or as dis- 

 tinguished by a most delicate and almost unique style 

 of sculpture, it will hardly fail to excite a more than 

 ordinary interest. The valves are so remarkably com- 

 pressed as nearly to be flat ; they are semi-pellucid, thin, 

 and extremely brittle. In shape they are of a suborbi- 

 cular oval, and decidedly longer than broad ; they are of 

 an uniform white both within and without, are rather 

 glossy when fresh, and, in addition to a few antiquated 

 lines of growth, are covered with a most minute shagreen- 



