SMITH : ON THE GENUS ASTARTE. 225 



conveys a very wrong impression in this respect, for the number 

 there represented is not more than half. I cannot believe this to 

 be the same as A. fabula, as suggested by Jeffreys, for its different 

 form and character and much greater regularity of the ribs appear 

 to me to offer very good distinguishing characters. It is chiefly 

 distinguished from the variety striata by its superior size, the 

 paleness of its epidermis, and the regularity and greater coarseness 

 of the ridges. Hancock's shell is stated to have a breadth of 

 nearly an inch and a length of three-quarters, whilst the largest 

 specimen in the museum, which considerably exceeds the average 

 size of var. striata, of compressa is only just over two-thirds long and 

 a little more than five-sixths in diameter. Since writing the above 

 I have seen a typical specimen in Dr. Jeffreys' collection, which 

 he received from Hancock. An examination of this convinces 

 me of the opinion above expressed, namely, that it is a large 

 fine-grown form most nearly approximating to the variety striata, 

 but differing in those respects which I have already pointed out. 



It is absolutely necessary to reject this name (compressa ) if 

 we admit that Venus compressa of Linne also be an Astarte. As 

 various authors appear to hold different views respecting this 

 question, some, e.g., Morch and Sars, upholding the Linnean 

 name and rejecting Montagu's and others, such as Hanley, 

 Jeffreys and Gould, entertaining precisely the reverse opinion; 

 and considering the fact that Montagu carelessly employed a 

 name already occupied, and that he confuses two species in his 

 description and figures, perhaps it may t)e advisable to employ 

 the name tnotitagui, which Dillwyn, the first to recognise 

 Montagu's error, substituted for the compressa of that author. 

 However as I have disregarded the compressa of Linne, I have 

 employed Montagu's name for this species by which it has 

 hitherto been generally known. 



The shell described by Linne in 1778 as Vemis compressa 



