322 TELLINIDiE. 



projecting. The ligament is of a yellowish olive colour, and 

 but little prominent. The hinge consists of a curved sub- 

 triangular cartilage pit situated just behind the beaks, and 

 inclining posteriorward, having in one valve a very small 

 apical triangular tooth above it in front, and an approximate 

 little elevated lateral lamina on either side of it, but unac- 

 companied by any teeth in the other valve. 



The length of a specimen of moderate size is seven- 

 eighths of an inch, which is just double the measure of 

 its breadth. 



" Animal sub-oval, compressed, with the mantle open 

 throughout its margins, finely fringed. Siphonal tubes long, 

 slender, separated throughout, the upper one usually longest 

 and plain at its orifice. The lower with about six short 

 points or scallops. The foot is compressed, moderately 

 long, linguiform broad at its base with a slight shoulder, 

 tapering to a not very rounded termination. Labia two, 

 very large, triangular, smooth externally, pectinated within. 

 Colour pearly-white, the tubes hyaline, the branchiae tinged 

 with light bi'own." — Clark, MSS. 1835. 



Though by no means so common a shell as S. alba, it is 

 not unfrequent on many parts of our coast. It lives in sandy 

 mud, and has a great range in depth, extending from shal- 

 lows, whence it is occasionally cast on shore by the waves, 

 to beneath one hundred fathoms. Between twenty and 

 fifty fathoms is its favourite region. A few out of many 

 localities may be mentioned ; Weymouth (S. H.) ; Ex- 

 mouth (Clark) ; Swansea and Fishguard (Jeffi-eys) ; Isle 

 of Man in twenty fathoms (E. F.) ; German Ocean, 

 southern parts, (Stanley) ; Scarborough (Bean) ; Northum- 

 berland (Alder) ; off Tynemoutli, in fine sand and mud, 

 from four or five to fifty fathoms (Thomas) ; Frith of Forth 

 (E. F.) ; Aberdeenshire (Macgillivray) ; Orkney (Tho- 



