ASTARTE. 75 



ASPERGILLUM. Lam. (From Jspergo, to sprinkle. ) Fam. 

 Tubicolse, Lam. Pyloridea, Bl. — Bescr. The small, equal, equi- 

 lateral valves are cemented into, so as to form part of, a large 

 tube ; the umbones are slightly prominent outside. The tube is 

 elongated, rather irregular, granulated with sandy particles, and 

 terminated at the base by a convex disc, which is perforated by 

 small pores, elongated into tubes round the edge, presenting a 

 resemblance to the spout of a watering pot, whence the name is 

 derived. Loc. New Holland, Java, New Zealand, Red Sea. Fig. 

 44. Aspergillum Vaginiferum. 



ASSIMINEA. Leach. Fam. Turbinacea, Lam.— Bescr. Inclining 

 to oval, light, thin, covered with a horny epidermis, spire pro- 

 duced into an acute pyramid ; whorls slightly angulated in the 

 centre, rounded beneath ; aperture elliptical, slightly modified by 

 the last whorl ; inner lip planed ; outer lip thin ; operculum 

 horny, subspiral. Found in brackish water ; one species may be 

 procured abundantly on the muddy shores of the Thames, in 

 Kent. There are also species from Calcutta, China, Tahiti, and 

 Australia. Without comparing the animals, it is difficult to 

 distinguish this genus from some species of Littorina. Fig. 

 363. A. Grayana. 



ASTACOLUS. Montf. A genus of microscopic Foraminifera. 

 Cristellaria Crepidula, Lam. 



ASTARTE J. Sowerby. (Name of a Sidonian Goddess, Ashtaroth in 

 Scripture.) Fam. Nymphacea, Lam. Genus Crassina, Lam. — Bescr. 

 Suborbicular, equivalve, inequilateral, thick, compressed; hinge 

 with two solid diverging teeth in the right valve, one tooth and a 

 slight posterior elevation in the left ; muscular impressions, two 

 in each valve, uniform, united by a simple palleal impression ; 

 ligament external. — Obs. This genus differs from Venus, Cythe- 

 raea, &c in not having a posterior sinus in the impression of the 

 mantle. The hinge also differs in having but two cardinal teeth. 

 Astarte differs from Crassatella in having no internal cartilage in 

 the hinge. Some of the species are British, others are from 

 America, and one from Sicily. The fossils occur in Crag, Lower 

 Oolite, &c. Fig. 110 A. Danmoniensis. 



