MOLLUSCA. 549 



determined and the features of the hinge are as yet unknown. 

 Pallial line apparently simple." (Whitfield.) 



Formation and locality. Raritan clay, Sayreville, near Wood- 

 bridge, East Brunswick (Whitfield). 



Geographic distribution. New Jersey. 



Super-family ASTARTACEA. 

 Family ASTABTIDAB. 



Genus ASTARTE Sowerby. 



Astarte veta Conrad. 



Plate LX.. Fig. 3. 



1869. Astarte veta Con., Am. Jour. Conch., vol. 4, p. 279, pi. 



20, fig. 4. 



1870. Astarte veta Con., Am. Journ. Conch., vol. 5, p. 227. 

 1886. Astarte veta Whitf., Pal. N. J., vol. i (Monog. U. S. G. 



S., vol. 9), p. 23, pi. 2, fig. i. 



Description. "Mr. Conrad described this species as 'Ovate, 

 from ventral margin to beak, compressed, equilateral; beaks 

 prominent, oblique; anterior ventral margin rounded, posterior 

 obliquely truncated; posterior end truncated and situated much 

 above the line of the base (cast).' In comparison he says, 'this 

 species is nearly allied to, if not identical with, Astarte Triasina, 

 Bunker.' 



"I have not been able to obtain specimens agreeing with the 

 above description, nor to find the type specimen used by Mr. 

 Conrad. The form of the shell would indicate that it belonged 

 to the genus Astarte, but beyond that there appears to be no real 

 evidence of its generic relations more than there is to other 

 species found in these clays. The outline of the shell might 

 suggest that it was a young individual of what I have herein 

 called Gnathodon tenuidens, but the apparent want of gibbosity 

 would not agree. So for the present at least the species will have 

 to be left as it is." (Whitfield.) 



