1S8 AMERICAN MARINE CONCIIOLOGY 



The figure is a copy of the original. I have not been able to 

 identify this species. 



Genus LITHODOMUS, Cuvier. 



Reg. Anim., ii. 461. 1817. 



The animal, which is eaten in the Mediterranean, is like a com- 

 mon mussel; but differs in habit, boring into corals, shells, and 

 the hardest limestone rocks; its burrows are shaped like the shell, 

 and do not admit of free rotatory motion. The genus inhabits 

 warm seas. 



1. L. forficatus, Ravenel. 



Proc. Philad. Acad., 44. 1861. 

 Shell thin, fragile, white ; posterior end with a narrow projec- 

 tion on each valve, deflected so as to cross each other ; within 

 light salmon color. 

 Length 31 mill. 



Charleston, 8. O. 



From a mass of coral drawn up by a fishing line, in 14 fathoms 

 off Charleston Bar. There was qnite a colony of these shells in 

 the coral. Possibly ballast from some distant localit}'? A 

 similar species inhabits the Caribbean Sea. • 



Genus CRENEL! A, Brown. 

 Hist. Brit. Couch. 1827. 



There are about 25 species of this genus, inhabiting temperate 

 ami arctic seas. Low water to 40 fathoms. Spinning a nest, or 

 hiding amongst the roots of sea-weed and corallines. 



a. Typical species. Surface of valves entirely covered by strire, 

 radiating in two diverging fasciculi from the beaks. Shell sub- 

 orbicular or oval. 



1. C. glandula, Totten. Fig. 515. 



(Mbdiola.) Am. Journ. Sci., xxvi. 367, f. 3, e. f. g. 

 Mytilus decussatus, Stimpson, Shells N. E., ii. 1851. 



Shell oblique, oval, orbicular, inflated, thin, radiating lines 

 crowded; inner margin crenulated ; epidermis brownish-yellow; 

 within pearly. 



Length 12, breadth 9 mill. 



New England, norlliwards. 



