167 



the authors of the ' British Mollusca/ " would scarcely have attracted such 

 attention had it not been for their excellent qualities as articles of food. 

 They are among the most delicious of shell-fish when properly cooked — 

 broiling is the best method — and are eaten in many parts of Britain as 

 well as abroad." 



The hinge and umboes of the shell, which are the nuclei of growth, are 

 situated so near to the posterior extremity, that the shell would appear to 

 be developed almost wholly in the anterior direction. The tendency of 

 the creature's muscular action is obviously great in that direction. Though 

 limited in species the Solens are widely distributed in seas of all tempera- 

 ture. 



1. acinaceus, Hanley. 



2. albus, Martyn. 



3. Americanus, Beck. 



4. Beckii, Phil. 



5. brevis, Gray. 



6. corneus, Lam. 



7. cylindraceus, Hani. 



8. ensis, Linn. 



9. exaratus, Phil. 



10. Gaudickaudii, Chemn. 



11. gracilis, Phil. 



Species. 



12. Guineensis, Gray. 



13. linearis, Chemn. 



14. mactra, Molin. 



15. magnus, Schmn. 



16. marginatus, Koch. 



17. obliquus, Speng. 



18. orientalis, Bunk. 



19. pellucidus, Perm. 



20. Pkilippinarurn, Hani. 



21. pictus, Phil. 



22. scalprum, King. 



23. Sckultzianus, Bunk. 



24. sicarius, Gould. 



25. siliqua, Linn. 



26. Sloanii, Gray. 



27. Tekuelcka, Pi Orb. 



28. vagina, Linn. 



29. vaginatus, Gi'ay. 



30. vaginoides, Lam. 



31. versicolor, Phil. 



32. viridis, Say. 



33. Zelanensis, Leach. 



Figure. 



Solen CULTELLUS. PI. 44. Pig. 236. Shell, of a delicate abnormal form 

 of Solen, the Razor-shells of our own shores being sufficiently well 

 known. 



Family 12. PHOLADARIA. 



Shell ; valves gaping more or less widely anteriorly ; hinge with 



Deshayes, during bis Algerian researches, observed a remai-kable instinct of Solen marginatus 

 to swirn when desirous of changing its locality. When it finds itself on ground too hard to be 

 penetrated by its foot, it fills the cavity of its mantle with water, and then contracting, and 

 closing at tbe same time its siphonal orifices, elongates its foot ; then re-contracting that organ, 

 it ejects the water with force from the tubes, and thus propels itself, after the manner of a 

 cuttle-fish, for a foot or two forwards. Then, if it finds the surface favourable, it bores and 

 buries itself ; but if not, makes another leap, to try its chance anew." — Forbes and Hanley, 

 Brit. Moll. vol. i. p. 245. 



