THE MOLLUSCA. 119 



one has the appearance of being pressed into the larger, 

 a feature by which the species may be instantly 

 recognised. 



ANATINID^E. 



Thraria phaseolina. One of our most beautiful shells ; rather 



abundant after high tides, and very fine. 

 Thracia convexa. Very rare, and single valves only. 



SOLENID^E. 



Solen marginatus (Sword Shell). Rare, and generally single 

 valves ; the shell is from four to six inches long, three- 

 quarters of an inch broad, with a groove indented at the 

 hinder margin. 



Solen Siliqua (Razor Shell). Good perfect shells have been 

 found, but rarely ; single valves occasionally. This 

 species sometimes attains a great size, nine or ten 

 inches long, and an inch and a half broad. In many 

 parts of the kingdom it is used as an article of food, and 

 considered very delicate eating ; it lives buried in the 

 sand at low water, from one to two feet deep. The 

 creatures are caught by pushing crooked wires down the 

 hole and hauling them up, or a little salt is dropped 

 down the hole, which rather incommodes the animal. 

 It rises up to see what is the matter, and is seized ; but 

 if thrown upon the sand will very quickly work its 

 way down again with its powerful muscular foot. 



Solen Ensis (the Scymitar). Very abundant and fine. Three 

 to four inches long, and curved like a bow. 



Solen Ensis (Var. magna). Double the size of the preceding, 

 and very rare. 



