40 CONTRIBUTIONS 
M. de Blainville, the founder of the genus; who by his 
talents and industry has contributed so eminently to the 
improvement and dissemination of the knowledge of na- 
tural history. This tribute to his worth affords me pecu- 
liar pleasure, estimating as I do his amiable character and 
great acquirements. 
FAMILY MYARIA. 
GENUS ANATINA. Lamarck. 
A. Claibornensis. Plate 1. Fig. 8. 
Description. A portion of the hinge only of this shell has 
come under my notice, consisting of the apophysis, the point 
of the beak, anda small part of the dorsal margin behind 
the beak. The apophysis is elliptical, and small compara- 
tively with the thickness of the valve in that region. The 
figure is a good representation of the part described, and 
it will be observed that the substance of the shell is much 
thicker than any described species. The pearly nacre 
which distinguishes most of the genus is very observable 
in this. 
I am not aware of this genus having been before ob- 
served in a fossil state, and it is to be hoped that the exer- 
tions of naturalists now interested in investigating this 
formation will bring to light perfect specimens of this 
interesting shell. 
