226 ASTARTIDA'. 



Distr. — Recent and Cretaceous; N. Am., Eur. E. umhonata^ 

 Gabb (cxxi, 11-13). 



Shell suborblcular, moderately compressed, witli pointed, 

 approximate beaks, with a deep narrow lunule, in external 

 character resembling Dosinia ; muscular impressions large, but 

 not deeply impressed, pallial sinus moderate, roundish, slightly 

 ascending ; hinge strong, in the right valve with two cardinal 

 teeth, the central one strong and thick, often grooved, the 

 anterior thinner and marginal ; in the left valve also with two 

 cardinal teeth, the subanterior thick, the posterior thinner ; one 

 small anterior lateral (lunule) tooth of the left valve fits into a 

 corresponding pit of the right, and another small longish pos- 

 terior and remote one of this valve into a corresponding cavity 

 of the left valve. The best known species is Lucina lenticularis, 

 Goldf., from the cretaceous beds near Aachen. 



This is a very different shell from Dosinia as regards hinge- 

 teeth as well as the form of the pallial sinus. It appears very 

 probable that some of the Jurassic Astartes (A. excavatum and 

 others), belong to this genus, but a very careful examination of 

 the hinge and of the pallial line, which is broad, though very 

 faint, and also of its sinus, will be necessary. The hinge-teeth 

 of Eriphyla closely approach those of Astarte, but these have no 

 distinct lateral teeth, nor a deep lunule or sinus. It is now 

 generally recognized as a Crassatellid genus. 



Family ASTARTIDiE. 



Shell thick, solid, equivalve, the cardinal teeth always well- 

 developed, 2-3 in each valve ; lateral teeth sometimes present on 

 one or both sides, ligament always external, strong ; muscular 

 scars ovate, the anterior usually with a small deep superimposed 

 pit, produced by the retractile muscle of the foot ; pallial line 

 entire. 



Subfamily ASTARTIN^. 



Shell subtrigonal or roundly oval, with a smooth, concentric- 

 ally striated or sulcated surface. 



Astarte, Sowerby, 1816. 



Etym. — Astarte, the Syrian Venus. 



Syn. — Crassina, Lamarck, 1818. Tridonta, Schum., 181T. 

 Goodallia, Turton, 1822 (part). 



Distr. — 20 sp, Behring's Straits, Wellington Channel, Kara 

 Sea, Ochotsk, United States, Norway, Britain,: Canaries, iEgean; 

 30-112 fathoms. Fossil, 285 sp. 'Carb.— ; North and South 

 America, Europe, Thibet. A. semisulcata, Leach (cxxii, 34). A. 

 Danmoniensis (cxxiii, 123). 



