VOL. LV.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 175 



cimen is one of infinite numbers that were thus bedded in the keel of a Spanish 

 ship, brought from the West Indies, a piece of which accompanies the shell, to 

 show how they lie in wood, stone, or any other hard bodies, that contain them. 

 But this name is altogether too vague and uncertain, unless it could be asserted 

 that this is the only kind that inhabits pieces of wood ; for every species of pholas 

 penetrates that and other solid substances likewise, and so do various other shell- 

 fish. Therefore, as all subjects in natural history should have some precision in 

 the appellations which distinguish them from each other, the best and most clear 

 method of giving names to them, is certainly to call them after some striking 

 character proper to them specifically : he therefore gives this species the above 

 title, viz. pholas conoides, being very different in its form from the oblong, the 

 broad, the pointed, the cylindrical, and every other pholas he has seen. And as 

 the figure given by Rumphius is so imperfect, and this name so general, it was 

 necessary to give an accurate account, as well as an exact representation of so 

 curious a species; and therefore he drew it in 4 views^^and describes it as follows: 

 If we observe this specimen, as it is entire, it will appear to consist of 2 great 

 valves, an anterior long piece, a posterior long piece, and an orbicular detached 

 piece at the end of this, at that extremity which may be called the base of the 

 cone. These make but 5 pieces to complete the whole, unless the white smooth 

 parts, at the broad ends of the great valves, be accounted separate pieces, which 

 they really are not, but absolute portions of the same valves; and, as to the 

 circular piece on the back, it appears to be entire, and not divided into 2; if it 

 may be accounted 2, then the whole would consist of 6 pieces, according to 

 Mons. de la Faille's opinion, who seems fond of that number in the pholades. 



It is 1^ inch long, and -f of an inch thick at the base; and this appears to be 

 its utmost size, because the others, which are in this piece of wood, seem nearly 

 of the same magnitude. The wood in which they lie was said to be cedar ; but 

 it rather seems to be of fir, having a fissile grain like common deal wood, and is 

 as easily split as that; it is also extremely light, and its fibres are very loose, nor 

 has it the least smell like cedar; they have the same colour, which is of a yellowish 

 cast; but the cedar has a close smooth grain, though it is a light wood, and soft 

 in itself: whereas this does not seem to be as hard as what we call white deal, 

 which is esteemed the lightest and tenderest of all the class of firs. 



The great valves are of a dusky white, inclining, towards the base end, to a 

 purplish cast ; where the striae are very fine and minute, running upwards to meet 

 those which are larger on the main body, in a wavy curve direction; and the 

 smooth parts of these, as well as the other pieces, are perfectly white, and with- 

 out any striae at all. The base end of this fish seems covered with 3 plates that 

 are white and smooth ; but these are only the 2 smooth pieces of the great valves, 

 and the circular posterior plate, mentioned before: and where these meet, that 



