



FAMILY TELLINIDiE — TELLINA. 209 



Tellina tenera. 



PLATE XXVI. TIG. 271. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Tellina tenera. Say, Joum, Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol. 2, p. 303. 

 T. id, Gould, Invertebrata of Mass. p. 68, fig. 44. 



Description. Shell very thin and fragile, pellucid, compressed, transversely oblong, suboval. 

 Surface with delicate concentric wrinkles, caused by the lines of growth. Beaks placed 

 slightly anteriorly : marginal folds distinct ; basal margin slightly arcuated. The anterior 

 cardinal tooth in the left valve largest ; the other often indistinct ; the chief tooth in each 

 valve grooved : lateral tooth on the longest side distinct ; the others very indistinct. 



Color. White, iridescent, occasionally with a pinkish or rosaceous hue. 



Vertical axis, - 35; transverse ditto, 0'55. Diameter, 0*1. 



This beautiful little shell occurs on our coast, from the shores of New-Jersey northwardly. 

 On the coast of Massachusetts, it is very common. 



Tellina versicolor. 



PLATE XXVI. FIG. 172. 

 T. versicolor. Cozzens, Jay's Catalogue of Shells, Ed. alt. p. 15. 



Description. Shell transverse, compressed, inequilateral, equivalve, slightly gaping at its 

 subacute extremity. Incremental stria? evident, but not laminae, and no radiating stria? : the 

 posterior end subangular, with an indistinct fold; anterior extremity dilated and rounded. 

 Cardinal teeth two in the right valve ; the posterior more robust, simple : in the left valve, 

 rudimentary or inconspicuous. 



Color. Polished, opalescent, white, with a distinct purple and bluish iridescence, often 

 strongly radiated, enlarging towards the margins. 



Vertical axis, 0*4; transverse ditto, 0"65. Diameter, 0"2. 



This shell, which is of extreme beauty, and often very brilliant, was first detected by Mr. I. 

 Cozzens on the shores of the Hudson at Glass-house point, a few miles above the city. In 

 its comparative proportions, teeth and color, it varies distinctly from T. sordida, with which 

 it is otherwise allied. It resembles very much the description of T. iris, except in wanting 

 the oblique strias ; but I have had no opportunity of making a direct comparison of the shells. 



Fauna — Part 6. 27 



