CONCHIFERA. 315 



Fig. 219. Solen siliqua, L. -g-; the valves forcibly opened, and mantle divided as far 

 as the ventral foramen, to show the foot. 



SoLEN (Aristotle) L, Razor-fisli. 



Type, S. siliqua, PI. XXII. fig. 4. 



Syn. Hypogaea, Poli. Vagina, Megerle. Eusis, Schum. Ensatella, S\v, 



ahell very long, sub-cylindrical, straight, or slightly recurved, margins 

 parallel, ends gaping : beaks terminal, or sub-central ; hinge-teeth | ; liga- 

 ment long, external; anterior muscular impression elongated; posterior 

 oblong ; pallial line extending beyond the adductors ; sinus short and 

 squai'e. 



Animal with the mantle closed except at the front end, and a minute 

 ventral opening ; siphons short, united, fringed ; palpi broadly triangular ; 

 loot cylindrical, obtuse. 



JDistr. 25 sp. World-wide, except Arctic seas : — 100 fms. 



Fossil, 10 sp. Eocene — . U. States, Europe. 



The Razor-fishes live buried vertically in the sand, at extreme low-water, 

 their position being only indicated by an orifice like a key-hole ; when the 

 tide goes out they sink deeper, often penetrating to a depth of 1 or 2 feet, 

 They never voluntarily leave their burrows, but if taken out soon bury them- 

 selves again. They may be caught with a bent wire, and are excellent articles 

 of food, when cooked. {Forbes.) 



CuLTELLUs, Schumacher. 



Type, C. lacteus, PI. XXTI. fig. 5. Etym. Cultellus a knife. 



Shell elongated, compressed, rounded and gaping at the ends ; hinge- 

 teeth 2.3 ; beaks in front of the centre, supported internally by an oblique 

 rib ; pedal impression behind the umbonal rib ; posterior adductor trigonal ; 

 paUial line not prolonged behind the posterior adductor ; sinus short and 

 square. 



Afiimal (of C. Javanicus) with short, fringed siphons ; gills narrow, half 

 as long as the shell, transversely plaited ; palpi lai'ge, angular, broadly at- 

 tached ; foot large, abruptly truncated. 



jyistr. 4 sp. Africa, India, Nicobar. 



Sub-genera. Ceratisolen, Eorbes. (Polia, D'Orb. Pharus, Leach, MS. 

 Solecm-toides, Desm.) C. legumen, PI. XXII. fig. 6. Shell narrow, sub- 

 equilateral, anterior adductor impressions elongated, a second pedal scar near 



