42 BIVALVES ANOMIA. 



form of an antique lamp, as the Anemia Caput-serpentis, 

 &c. &c. and others bear a strong affinity to the hooked 

 or curved beaks of a parrot, as is manifested in the Ana- 

 mia Psittacea, &c. &c. 



The prevaiUng color in this genus is that of a dirty 

 yellow, or dusky white j however, some are bright yellow* 

 as the Anomia Electrica. 



The Anomia Cepa (the Onion Peel), and the Anomia 

 Sella (the Sadie Oyster), have a fine coppery or bronze- 

 like appearance; and the Anomia Capensis and Sanguino- 

 lenta have a fine piqk or red coloring. The Anomia 

 Flexuosa, and other similar species, have their shells of a 

 smoke color, or olive black, and some are found of a per- 

 fect shining jet black. 



Some of the Anomiae are almost smooth, while others, 

 on the contrary, are ribbed and striated; others, again, 

 decline on the fore-part, and have a groove or channel 

 running down the middle of the shell. 



The Anomiae are for the most part thin, delicate shells, 

 and usually semitransparent. The Anomia Placenta (the 

 Cake) but commonly called the Chinese Window Oyster, 

 IS, when in a young state, almost transparent, and is by 

 some trifling polishing process, reducible to a state 

 nearly resembling glass; and, as is reported, frequently 

 made use of by the ingenious Chinese, as a substitute for it. 



The hinge of the Anomia, admits of considerable va- 

 riation; but its most prominent feature is that of being 

 furnished with a linear prominent cicatrix, and a lateral 

 tooth placed within ; and in the flattest valve, quite on the 

 margin, are placed two bony rays, or linear callosities, 

 which serve as a base for the animal. However, some 

 liave only one tooth or ray in each valve. The interior 

 of these shells is often silvery, and the margin is frequently 

 crenate, notched, or toothed, but in many it is perfectly 



