ANOMIA. 333 



233. — Fleming, Brit. Anim. p. 396. — Macgilliv. Moll. 

 Aberd. p. 232.— Brit. Marine Conch, p. 123, f. 73.— Brown, 

 Illust. Conch. G. B. p. 70, pi. 22, f. 6. — Brugiere, Encycl- 

 Method. Vers, vol. i. p. 73. — Dillw. Recent Shells, vol. i. 

 p. 288. — Philippi, Moll. Sicil. vol. ii. p. 214, pi. 28, f. 1 

 (probably). — Gould, Invert. Massach. p. 1 39, f. 90. — 

 Loven, Index Moll. Scandinav. p. 30. 

 Anomia striolata, (var.) Turt. Dithyra Brit. p. 233. — Flem. Brit. Animals, 

 p. 396.— Macgilliv. Moll. Aberd. p. 233 ? — Brit. Marine 

 Conch, p. 125. — Brown, Illust. Conch. G. B. p. 70. 



The Prickly Anomia is a very small species closely re- 

 sembling a young ephippkini, from which it may be dis- 

 tinguished by its spinous sculpture. This is composed of 

 extremely crowded vaulted scales, disposed in a more or 

 less close order, which radiate in all directions from the 

 umbo, and are occasionally seated on interrupted elevated 

 strise or narrow costellse. When circumstances permit its 

 developement, the attached valve is wont to exhibit a 

 similar echinated appearance ; ordinarily, however, it is 

 devoid of sculpture and very thin and fragile. The undis- 

 turbed shell is more or less suborbicular, the colour is 

 whitish or pale ochraceous brown, and never adorned with 

 coloured markings or a green interior. The umbo is 

 almost marginal, and the perforation is ovate, of moderate 

 size, and immediately adjacent to the hinge-margin. 



We consider the striolata of Turton to be a variety of 

 this species, with more distant and less echinated strise. 

 From three-eighths to half an inch may be reckoned the 

 full diameter. 



Distributed everywhere around our coast in similar local- 

 ities with ephippium, though probably not ranging so deep. 

 It is found throughout the North Atlantic very small, of 

 an uniform whitish or brownish hue with radiating vaulted 

 scales ; the perforation is immediately adjacent to the 

 dorsal edge. 



