236 Notes on Species of CoiMculadce. 



transverse, very close to the hinge, posterior tooth elongate, 

 lightly striated, remote from the hinge; muscular impressions 

 rounded, equal ; palleal impression ending in a very short sinus ; 

 ligament short, narrow. 



The genus Velorita was established by Mr. Gray for a shell 

 which he had previously described under the name of Cyrena ; 

 it differs very materially from the other genera of the family in 

 its exterior shape and in the peculiar formation of the hinge. 

 The valves are very thick, oblong, the beaks heart-shaped, and 

 the lunula is generally distinct and convex in the centre. The 

 hinge is broad, it has three cardinal teeth, all inclined obliquely 

 towards the posterior side ; the anterior lateral tooth is very 

 thick, prominent, and is placed very close to and at a right 

 angle with the anterior cardinal tooth, the posterior lateral tooth 

 is long, somew r hat narrow, and to a certain extent similar to 

 that of Corbicula. 



Up to the present time we knew of but one species of this 

 genus, a recent one supposed to come from Japan, the V. Cy~ 

 prinoides / we now have the satisfaction of adding another to 

 the list. 



M. Deshayes, who does not admit the validity of this genus, 

 has discovered in the Basin of Paris certain forms of Cyrena, 

 which would seem to establish a connecting link between Yelo- 

 rita and Cyrena. 



l. Velorita Cochinensis, Hanley. 



Cyrena Cochinensis, Hanley. Proc. Zool. xxvi. 543. 1858. 

 Cyrena Corbiculaeformis, Prime. Acad. N. S. Phil. Proc. 80. 1860. 



Prime Cat. 6. 1863. 



V. testa cordata, crassa, valde inequilateral], obliqua, ventricosa seu 

 turaida ; latere antico breviore, rotundato, postico productiore, acumi- 

 nata ; margine ventrali arcuato antice valde, postice parurn acclivi; nati- 

 bus obliquis, magnis, incurvis, prominentibus ; lunula nulla, loco ejus 

 autera sulcorum experte ; striis irregularibus antice exarata ; epidermide 



