242 NEW-YORK FAUNA — MOLLUSCA. 



FAMILY SOLENIDjE. 



Shell generally thin, elongated transversely, without accessory pieces, and gaping only 

 at the lateral extremities ; ligament exterior. 



GENUS SOLEN. Linnaus. 



Animal with its mantle closed in its whole length, adhering by its edges, and attached to the 

 lower edge of the shell by a double membrane which is reflected upon itself to form the 

 epidermis ; presenting below a tube, double within, conic, annulated, and capable of great 

 elongation, with two simple orifices ; that of the siphon larger than that of the vent. Foot 

 quite in front, large, conic, swollen in the middle. Branchiae long, narrow, pointed behind, 

 adhering on two lines in front on each side of the body, then uniting at a certain distance 

 behind into one line. Labial appendices elongated, triangular. Mouth small. Vent at the 

 end of a very small tube floating in the cavity. Shell moderately thin, translucent, much 

 elongated transversely, equivalve ; sides nearly parallel. Beaks very small, terminal. Car- 

 dinal teeth small, rounded, variable. 



SoLEN ENSIS. 

 PLATE XlXin. FIG. 313. 



Sokn insu. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 1114. 



S. id. CoNEAD, Am. Mar. Conch, p. 27, pi. 5, fig. I. 



S. id. RussEL, Essex Jour; Nat. Hist, Vol. 1, p. 51. Godld, Invertebrata of Mass. p. 29. 



Description. Shell cylindrical, elongated transversely, slightly curved, the sides parallel ; 

 ends truncate, more or less convexly rounded. Surface with glossy epidermis, and a long 

 triangular space marked by the concentric lines of growth ; remaining part of the shell with 

 lines parallel to the basal margin. Hinge at one end, with a single tooth, and a sharp lateral 

 plate of one valve entering between two teeth and a double plate of the other ; the termina- 

 tions of the two plates, when not broken oflf, rise up in a curved manner, and cross each 

 other like teeth. 



Color, greenish olive ; the long triangular space faded purple. 



Vertical axis, 0-5 - 1 -0 ; transverse ditto, 5-0 - 6' 0. 



This is the common Razor-shell of our shores, and occurs on both sides of the Atlantic. 

 It lives in the sand near and below low-water mark, and is esteemed in many parts of the 

 world as a good article of food. 



