CHAP. XII. 



BIVALVES: 



VENUS ; Venus. 



Q. UNDER this genera, a variety of beautiful 

 sheik are included ; will you have the goodness 

 to point out to me their distinguishing peculia- 

 rities ? 



A. Most readily. The lips of, the shells are 

 incumbent on the front margin. The hinge has 

 three approaching teeth ; side ones, diverging 

 from the tip. The area and areola are well 

 defined. In this genus the beaks are uniformly, 

 or with very few exceptions, turned towards 

 the posterior slope, that is, from the ligament. By 

 this character they are distinguished from many 

 of the Tellinae, which otherwise much resemble 

 them. The shells are mostly thick and strong. 



Q. Does the superior beauty of this kind of 

 shell entitle it to the appellation of Venus ? 



A. Linnaeus dedicated it to this fabulous divi- 

 c 3 



