G70 REPORT 1863. 



longer, and in the purple colour. This, however, in the figured speci- 

 men, has been brought-out by the free use of acid, and the markings have 

 been considerably obliterated by the " beautifying " process.] 

 44, Venus similUma, Sby. San Diego, CaL "Resembles V. compta in detail of 

 sculpture " [but perfectly distinct, belonging to the amutlnma group. 

 It shows the evil of the very brief diagnoses of the earlier conchologists 

 that so discriminating an author as Mr. Conrad should have taken this 

 shell for the V. CaUforniensii, Brod. ; and, quoting it (lapsu) as V. Cali- 



forniana, redescribed the true V. Californiensis as V. Nuttallii. It is 



'known by the great closeness of the fine sharp ribs.] 



46. Venus crenulata, no. 33, very distinct var. Gulf Cal. ; more globose, interior 



purple rose. [This was sent as " Cape St. Lucas, Xantus" It appears 

 truly distinct from the "W. I. crenulata, and to be the normal form 

 of which pulicaria, no. 26, is an extreme var. Inside, and outside in 

 the adolescent state, they agree exactly ; differing outside, in the adult, 

 in snioothed-ofr'ribs and more distinct V -markings. Mr. Reeve, however, 

 still thinks it more like crenifera. It may stand as " ? var. Klacina"~\ 



47. Venus ffibbosula, Desh., MS. in Mus. Cum. Hob. ? [Guaymas : = V. Cortezi, 



Sloat. This is the more rounded and porcellanous form of V.Jktctifraga, 

 = V. Nwttalli of Brit. Assoc. Report, and Nuttallian paper in P. Z. S. 

 1856, p. 21 ; but not the true V. Nwttalli, Conr., v. infra, no. 49. Interior 

 margin very finely erenated on both sides of the hinge.] 



43. Venus compta, Brod. Bay of Sechura, Peru, coarse sand and mud, 7 fms., 

 C timing. [This rare species seems to represent V. Californiensis in the 

 South American fauna. It is well distinguished by its shouldered form, 

 produced ventrally, and by the Circoid pallia! line, far removed from the- 

 margin. Guacomayo, Mus. Smiths.] 



49. Venus Nifttalli, Conr. * California. [Named from type, teste Conr. ip., v. 

 antea, p. 520. This is the dull northern form of V. sitccincta, a.* f ffncti- 

 frayu is of yibbosttla, the species appearing nearly in the same parallels in 

 the Gulf and on the Pacific coast, but not found in the Liverpool Reigeu 

 Co 1 .; nor at Cape St. I.ucas. In all essential characters, Nuttalli( though 

 pointed) an 1 Cafiforniensis (though rounded) appear the same; but Mr. 

 Reeve s'ill thinks otherwise. The figured specimen has been altered with 

 acid. The F. excacata is not noticed by Mr. R.j 



51. Venus mundulus, Rve. Hetb. ? [This shell was obtained by Dr. Stimpson 

 in the N. P. Expl.Exp., and bears the Smiths. Cat. number " 1845. San 

 Francisco, very common at low water," = Tapes dirersa, Sby. Jan. This 

 is the highly painted, finely sculptured state of T. stamiwu, Com*, (not 

 ' T. straminea, Conr." Sby.,= T. grata < var.) The abnormally ridged form 

 is V. ruderata, Desh. Conch. Ic. sp. 130. By its large pallia! siuus and 

 bifid teeth it is a true Tapes.'] 



62. Venus intersecta, Sby. Puerto Puero [PPortrerol, Centr. Am., Owning* 

 [The shell is exactly identical with no. 19, asj.erriinacardioidbs; but the 

 ngure might mislead, the colour-lines appearing as rib-*.] 



64. Venus siibrostrata, Lam.* vi. p. 343, = V. neylecta, [Gray": Sl>v. Unit. MftznUan 

 and West Indies. " Lam. having cited a figure of th China species, V. La- 

 marcJiii, the species was lost sight of till Sby. renamed it." [T he La nun ck- 

 ian species was probably West Indian. V. negtecUi closely resembles 

 the young of V. Californiensis, but has the ligamental area smooth only 

 on one valve, instead of both.] 



69. Venus Stutchliwui (Gray), Wood, Sindwich Is. Comes very near to the 

 Californian V. callosa, [Sby., non] Conr., of wh'ch specimens have been 

 found also at the Sandwich Is. \_V. Stittcltbun/i is the New Zealand 

 species, which may easily be confounded with the Califomian. Although 

 both may be obtained at the Sandwich Is., there is no evidence that either 



* In critical species, when it is impossible to be positive which of two or more was 

 intended by an old author, it appears best to retain the name of the first discriminator. 

 The old name belongs to the general form : the discriminator ought to retain it for ft 

 part j but if that has not been done, it avoids confusion to drop it. 



56 



