142 Zoological Society : — - 



On two New Genera of Acephalous Mollusks. 

 By Henry Adams, F.L.S. 



My attention having been lately directed to the genera Cultellus 

 and Macoma, the former belonging to the Solenidce, and the latter 

 to the Tellinidce, both families of Acephalous Mollusca, it may, I 

 think, be interesting to point out two species hitherto included in 

 those genera, viz. Cultellus cultellus and Macoma Bruguieri, vi^hich 

 are so aberrant in their characters as to render it desirable that they 

 should be constituted the types of distinct groups. The former may 

 be considered a genus, for which I would propose the name Ensi- 

 culus, and the latter a subgenus of Macoma, and be distinguished 

 under the name Macalia. 



Genus Ensiculus, H. Adams. 

 Testa tenuis, transverse elongata, arcuata, utraque extremitate 

 rotundata et hiante ; umbonibus subanterioribus, interne costa 

 brevi curvataque Jirmatis. Curdo in dextra valva duobus den- 

 tibus, in sinistra valva tribus dentibus instructus. Anterior 

 impressio muscularis subtrigonalis ; sinus pallialis brevis et 

 latus. 

 E. CULTELLUS, Linn. 



Shell thin, transversely elongated, arcuated, rounded and gaping 

 at each end ; beaks sub-anterior, strengthened internally by a short 

 curved rib. Hinge composed of two teeth in the right, and three 

 in the left valve. Anterior muscular impression subtrigonal ; pallial 

 sinus short, wide. 



This genus is most nearly allied to Cultellus, but differs from it in its 

 arcuated and more elongated and parallel form, and in the strength- 

 ening callus of the umbo being short and curved. 



The genus Macoma, I would observe, will probably, when an op- 

 portunity of examining the animal of Gastrana shall occur, be found, 

 as pointed out by Mr. Clark in his ' British Mollusca,' to have closer 

 relations with Gastrana than with Tellina ; and the chief peculiarity 

 oi Macalia, as distinguishing it from ilfacowia proper, — viz. the large 

 size and strength of the hinge-teeth, which are strikingly similar to 

 those of Gastrana, — tends to confirm this opinion. The general form 

 of Macalia, however, which is subrotundate and compressed, toge- 

 ther with the solidity of the shell, prevents its being included in that 

 genus. The entire absence of lateral teeth serves to distinguish the 

 species of Macoma and Gastrana from the Tellince. 



Nov. 13, 1860.--Dr. Gray, F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. 



Note on the Japanese Deer living in the Society's 

 Menagerie. By Philip Lutley Sclater, M.A,, Secre- 

 tary TO the Society. 

 I venture to call particular attention to one out of several im- 

 portant additions made to the Menagerie since the last meeting for 

 scientific business. 



