CONCHIFERA. 315 



Fig. 2] 9. Solen siliqua, L. ; the valves forcibly opened, and mantle divided as far 

 as the ventral foramen, to show the foot. 



SOLEN (Aristotle) L. Razor-fish. 



Type, S. siliqua, PL. XXII. fig. 4. 



Syn. Hypogsea, Poli. Vagina, Megerle. Ensis, Schum. Ensatella, Sw. 



Shell very long, sub-cylindrical, straight, or slightly recurved, margins 

 parallel, ends gaping : beaks terminal, or sub-central ; hinge-teeth f ; liga- 

 ment long, external; anterior muscular impression elongated; posterior 

 oblong ; pallial line extending beyond the adductors ; sinus short and 

 square. * 



Animal with the mantle closed except at the front end, and a minute 

 ventral opening ; siphons short, united, fringed ; palpi broadly triangular ; 

 foot cylindrical, obtuse. 



Distr. 25 sp. World- wide, except Arctic seas : 100 fms. 



Fossil, 10 sp. Eocene . U. States, Europe. 



The Razor-fishes live buried vertically in the sand, at extreme low- water, 

 their position being only indicated by an orifice like a key-hole ; when the 

 tide goes out they sink deeper, often penetrating to a depth of 1 or 2 feet. 

 They never voluntarily leave their burrows, but if taken out soon bury them- 

 selves again. They mayjbe caught with a bent wire, and are excellent articles 

 of food, when cooked. (Forbes.} 



CULTELLUS, Schumacher. 



Type, C. lacteus, PI. XXII. fig. 5. Etym. Cultellus a knife. 



Shell elongated, compressed, rounded and gaping at the ends ; hinge- 

 teeth 2.3 ; beaks in front of the centre, supported internally by an oblique 

 rib ; pedal impression behind the umbonal lib ; posterior adductor trigonal ; 

 pallial line not prolonged behind the posterior adductor ; sinus short and 

 square. 



Animal (of C. Javanicus) with short, fringed siphons ; gills 1 narrow, half 

 as long as the shell, transversely plaited; palpi large, angular, broadly at- 

 tached ; foot large, abruptly truncated. 



Distr. 4 sp. Africa, India, Nicobar. 



Sub-genera. Ceratisolen, Forbes. (Polia, D'Orb. Pharus, Leach, MS. 

 Solecurtoides, Desm.) C. legumen, PlTXXII. fig. 6. Shell narrow, sub- 

 equilateral, anterior adductor impressions elongated, a second pedal scar near 



