BIVALVES VENUS. 25 



VENUS.— Venus. 



Animal— a Tethys: Shell hivalvct the frontal margin flat- 

 tened ivith incumbent lips: hinge with three teeth, all of 

 them approximate, the lateral ones divergent at the tip. 



It has already been observed, that this genus, with re- 

 gard to beauty, bears a decided pre-eminence over all 

 the other genera of Bivalves: and it is in all probability 

 from this very circumstance that it has obtained the title 

 it bears. In point of number it exceeds all other genera 

 of Bivalves; for it contains no less than one hundred and 

 fifty three species; among these the variety in formation 

 and coloring is almost infinite: however, one of the lead- 

 ing features of this genus is, that many of its species have 

 the frontal margins of their shells somewliat flattened, 

 and not unfrequently with the lips incumbent. The 

 elongated, compressed, angular, and orbicular forms, 

 equally find a place in this genus, as may be observed on 

 inspecting the four following species:— viz. Venus Lite- 

 rata, Compressa, Scripta, and Tigeriua. 



In some, the form is very much inflated, gibbous, or 

 swollen, as in Venus Verrucosa, Fimbriata, and Reticu- 

 lata. 



Many of this genus are famous for their smoothness, and 

 the brilliant lustre of their surfaces, such as the Venus Ery- 

 cina, Maculata, Chione, &c. &c. these at the same time 

 are remarkable for their high and rich coloring. Others, 

 again, have less of color and polish, but more of carved 

 work or reticulations about them, as in the Venus Pa- 

 phia. Reticulata, &c. ?cc. and one species is even spinous, 

 viz. Venus Dione. 



