97 



fmall, central ; hinge without Literal teeth; cartilao-e ca- 

 vity large, triangular ; primary teeth final! ; a fingle one 

 locking into a bifid tooth in the oppofite valve. Infide 

 fmooth, gloffy, white ; margin plain. Length one inch 

 and a half; breadth two. 



There is no doubt Mr. Pennant v/as acquainted with 

 this very common Briti/li fpecies, though he has miftaken 

 it for the Venus borealis oF Lm^ .'e.vs : his other fynonyms 

 confirm this opinion. Da Costa has erroneoufly con- 

 fidered the Tellina crajpi and Venus borealis of the Brilijh 

 Zoology to be the fame fhell ; whereas the defcriptions 

 given by Pennant, though concife, are fufficient to note 

 the diftinftion. 



It is remarkable, that it does not appear Linn^us was 

 acquainted with this fliell : and Gmelin has evidently 

 taken it from Lister, as he fays ''Habitat ad ojiium fluvii 

 Angliae Tees ;" and calls it L^Jlcri in compliment to that 

 author. 



This is one of the moO; plentiful BritiJIi fpecies, and 

 may almoft be termed a fub-marine fhel', being chiefly 

 found at the mouths of rivers, or inlets not remote from 

 frefh water; and though never beyond the flux of the 

 tide, yet it delights in fituations where frefh water is oc- 

 cafionally flowing over. It principally inhabits fludge or 

 muddy places, buried to the depth of five or fix inches.. 



O Do f tor 



