340 MALACOZOA. TKOPIOPODA. LAMELLIBRANCHIATA. 



This species attains a much larger size, being sometimes 

 from two to three inches in length. It is very nearly allied to 

 Venerupis Pullastra, but easily distinguishable, its divergent 

 striae being much more deeply impressed, the transverse striee 

 also more distinct, and its siphonal sinus, not parallel to the 

 pallial margin, but passing obliquely to the middle of the 

 valves. It varies in colour from white to reddish-brown, and 

 has the interior yellow or reddish, sometimes with purple 

 markings toward the dorsal margin or posterior extremity. 



Venus decussata. Linn. Syst. Nat. 1135. — Venus litterata. 

 Penn. Brit. Zool. iv. 96, PI. 57. f. 53. — Venus decussata. Mont. 

 Test. Brit. 124.— Venus decussata. Turt. Brit. Biv. 158. PI. 8. 

 f. 10. — Venerupis decussata. Flem. Brit. Anhm 451. — Venus de- 

 cussata. Laruk. Syst. v. 597 ; Ed. 2. vi. 356. 



Family VIII.— Tellinina. P. 214, 276. 



Genus 4. Tellina. P. 215, 279. 



4. Tellina prdxima. Brown Tellina. 



Shell subovate, compressed, with the umbones very 

 small and nearer the posterior end ; the frontal slope 

 little convex, the anterior end rounded ; the dorsal slope, 

 rapidly declinate, nearly straight, the posterior end sub- 

 angulate ; the surface with irregular concentric striae. 

 Prdximus, very near (to Tellina tenuis). 



Shell subovate, compressed ; the umbones very small, 

 pointed, and slightly turned backwards ; the anterior end 

 much longer and rounded, the posterior subangulate ; the 

 dorsal slope rapidly declinate, convex toward the end, the 

 frontal slope little convex ; the valves thin, with irregular 

 concentric stria? ; the hinge margin rather thick ; the right 

 valve with a triangular cardinal depression, and two small 

 teeth ; the muscular impressions oblong ; the colour of the ex- 

 terior didl brown. Length an inch, height nine-twelfths. 



Only a single decayed valve, brought up by the lines, off 

 Aberdeen, in the Spring of 1842, found by Mr. Alexander 

 Davidson. It is said by M. Deshayes to occur alive in the 

 North Sea. It is also found in the fossil state in Sweden, and 

 at Helensburgh, on the Clyde. 



Tellina proxima. Smith, Wern. Mem. viii. 105. PI. 1. f. 21. 



