44 CORBULID.f:. 



with a single erect cardinal tooth in one valve or both, besides 

 a long lateral tooth on one or each side in either valve ; in 

 species of Neara there is also a free calcareous ossicle : paUial 

 scar slight, with a shallow sinus : muscular scars well marked. 



These are of small size, and comprised in few genera : 

 the species are numerous and prolific^ characters wdiich 

 are probably correlative. The British genera are Poro- 

 mya, Necera, and Corbula. The first is a box studded 

 with tiny pearls. 



" Ne lesse praisworthie faire Neoera is." 



Her shell resembles the body of a bird, without 

 feet or wings, but having a stretched-out beak; and, 

 although this age is not barren of artistic invention, 

 it might serve as a graceful model for some work of 

 fictile manufacture. The last has also an apposite 

 name, and reminds one of a basket with a close-fitting 

 lid. The hinge in each genus is constructed somewhat 

 on the plan of the Mactridce ; but it docs not possess 

 an external ligament as well as an internal cartilage. 

 The Corbulidce live in mud and sand at various depths, 

 but seldom between tide-marks. Lamarck called them 

 " Corbulees,'' Latreille ^^ Corbulsea,'' and Hinds "Cor- 

 bulacea.^^ 



Genus I. POROMY'A-^, Forbes. PL II. f. 3. 



Body roundish-oval, thin : tubes unequal in size, clothed 

 with numerous long filaments : foot narrow and slender. 



Shell roundish-oval, slightly inequivalve and inequilateral, 

 thin and pearly, with the outer layer composed of minute 

 tubercles ; posterior side angulated : epidennis membranous 

 and thin : teeth, in the right valve a short but strong cardinal, 

 and in the left a minute triangular cardinal and a ridge-like 

 lateral on the posterior side. 



* Passing into the genus Mi/a ; or having, with the shape of that shell, 

 a tubular structure. 



