BIVALVES ANOMIA.. 5J) 



thrusts a strong ligament, by which it affixes itself todif- 

 ferent marine substances, as fuci, crabs, spines of echini, 

 and especially to the stars of the madrepora prolifera. 



The form of the Anomia difteis materially, some re- 

 sembling the shape of an oyster, as the Anomia cepa, 

 ephippium, &c. &:c. all of which have a large hole in 

 their flat valve. Others, again, are nearly orbicular, as 

 tlie Anomia craniolaris, placenta, &c. &c. and some are 

 oblong, like the Anomia pectinata, &c. &c. and many of 

 them, when looked at in profile, nearly resemble the 

 form of an antique lamp, as the Anomia caput-serpentis, 

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

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

 mia psittacea, &c. &.c. 



The prevailing color in this genus is that of a dirty 

 yellow, or dusky white; however, some are bright yel- 

 low, as the Anomia electrica. 



The Anomia cepa (the onion peel), and the Anomia 

 sella (the saddle oyster), have a fine coppery or bronze- 

 like appearance; and the Anomiacapensis and sanguino- 

 lenta have a fine pink 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 shelK 

 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 

 «ome trifling polishing process, reducible to a state neai'iy 



