j6 Praeger — The Marine Shells 



but is probably to be found " — Hyndman. Like Tapes decussatus, tbis species 

 appears to stop short on tbe borders of our province, as it lives in Carlingford 

 Lougb (R.L1.P.), and abounds further southward, while it has never been taken 

 alive further north. Like T. decussatus, too, it occurs in profusion in our 

 Estuarine Clays, whence are probably derived the odd valves which are found 

 in Belfast Lough and elsewhere. 



Solecurtus candidus, Eenier. 



Dead ; dredged by Hyndman on the Turbot Bank, and by Dickie in 12-15 

 fathoms outside Strangford Lough. Very rare. 



Solecurtus antiquatus, Pulteney. 



" Bed Bay and Larne Lough, Co. Antrim— Strangford Lough, 8-10 

 fathoms, soft sand, W.T." — Thompson (sub Solen antiquatus). Hyndman 

 dredged it several times, in a dead state, off Black Head, in 15 to 30 fathoms. 

 In Strangford Lough, Dickie obtained it in almost every haul of the dredge, 

 but never alive. (By Hyndman and Dickie sub S. coarctatus). 



Ceratisolen legumen, Linne. 



The following from Thompson (sub Solen legumen) : — " 'Plentiful on the 

 East coast from Cork to Belfast', Brown's Illust. p. 113, 2nd edit. This re- 

 mark gives quite too extensive an idea of its distribution. Specimens from 

 the extensive sandy coasts of Dublin and Louth only have come under my 

 notice ; if the species be found so far North as Down, it must be only on the 

 more southern part of it". Newcastle, Co. Down— Belf. Mus. Coll.; and 

 Mr. Swanston has a fresh and complete specimen, and also a fresh single 

 valve, which he found thrown up by the tide at this place. 



Solen pellucidus, Pennant. 



A rather common species, living in all our bays and in the deeper waters, 

 on sand and mud, in depths varying from 3 to 25 fathoms. Thompson men- 

 tions that plaice caught on the northeast coast have sometimes their stomachs 

 filled with remains of this shell. 



Solen ensis, Linne". 



Common in sandy bays throughout the province. 



Solen slliqua, Linne". 



" Most common of the genus on our coast generally" — Thompson. Dead 

 valves have been dredged in up to 90 fathoms, but the habitat of the species 

 is in sandy bays between tide-marks, where it is abundant. As noted by 

 Hyndman, very fine specimens are to be found at Ballyholme Bay, Co. Down. 



Solen vagina. Linne. 



' ' A specimen has been given me as from Larne Lough ' ' — Thompson. ' ' On 

 the Irish coast it is local, inhabiting very extensive sandy beaches, as those of 

 Magilligan, and of the counties of Dublin and Cork (Thompson). In eight 

 fathoms, Bangor, County Down, dead (Patterson)" — Forbes and Hanley. 

 " Dead, off Bangor, Co. Down" is Hyndman' s only note of it (sub S. margi- 

 natus), and Dickie's dredgings never yielded it. This species, which is so rare 



