86 
MOLLUSCA. 
valves, one brown, the other white, and internal ribs, fine as 
hairs, approximated two by two* * * § . 
Lima, Brug. 
The Limse differ from the Pectens in the superior length of their 
shell in a direction perpendicular to the hinge, the ears of which are 
shorter, and the sides less unequal, thus forming an oblique oval. 
The ribs of most of them are relieved with scales. The valves can- 
not join during the life of the animal, whose mantle is furnished 
Avith numberless filaments of different lengths Avithout tubercles, and 
more internally, Avith a large border AA'^hich closes the opening of the 
shell, and even forms a veil in front. The foot is small and the bys- 
sus trifling. The Limae SAvim Avith rapidity by means of their 
valves. 
One species, the Ostrea lima, L. ; Chemn., VII, Ixviii, 651, 
of a fine white, inhabits the Mediterranean. It is eaten f. 
Pedum, Brug. 
The oblong and oblique shell Avith small ears, of the Lirnse ; but 
the A^alves are unequal, and the one only that is most convex has a 
deep emargination for the byssus. The animal is similar to that of 
a Lima, but its mantle is only furnished Avith a single range of small, 
slender tentacula. Its byssus is larger. 
But a single species is knoAvn; it inhabits the Indian 
Ocean 
Certain fossils may be placed here AA'hich have the hinge, 
ligament, and central muscle of the Ostrese, Pectines, and Limae, 
but are distinguished by some of the details of the shell. 
Hinnita, Defr. 
The Hinnitie appear to be Ostreae or Lirnse Avith small ears, and ad- 
hering, irregular and very thick shells, the convex valve in particular. 
A depression is observed on the hinge for the ligament §. 
* Add the ninety-one species of Osfrea, Gmel. ; we must remember, however, 
that some of them are far from established on a solid foundation. For the fossil 
species, consult Sowerby (Mineral Conchology), and Brongniart, App. Cuv., Oss. 
Foss, tome II, Env. de Paris. 
-f- Add, Ostrea glacialis, Chemn., VII, Ixviii, 652, 653 ; — Ostr. excavata, Ib., 
654 ; — Ostr. fragilis, Ib., 650 ; — Ostr. Mans, Gault., LXXXV’III, FF, G. For the 
fossil species, see Lamarck, Ann. du Mus., VIII, p. 461 ; Brocchi, Couch. Foss., 
and Sowerb., Min. Conch. 
X Ostrea spondylo'idea, Gm., Chemn., VIII, Ixxxii, 669,670. 
§ Some living species have very lately been referred to the genus Hinnita, 
Defr. M. Gray, — Ann. of Phil., August 1826, — describes one by the name of Hin- 
nita gigantea ; Sowerby, — Zool. Journ. IX, p. 67, adds a second by that of H. 
coraUina; finally, M. Deshayes refers the Ostrea sinuosa, L., to this genus, and de- 
scribes a fourth living species under the name of Hinnita Defrancii; M. Defrance 
also admits two fossil species, the H. Cortesii, Blainv., Malac., pi. Ixi, f. 1, and the 
H. Dubuissonii. 
