BIVALVIA. 



281 



Panopea.* Menard de la Grope, 1807. 



Mya (sp.) Linn. Broc. 



CHAMiEPHOLAS (sp.) Petiver. 



Glycimeris. Lam/e. 1812. 



Panopea. Gold/. Phil. Promt. Valenciennes. 



Panopia. Swains. 1810. 

 Panopoea. Nyst, 1844. 

 Homomya (sp.) Agass. IS 15. 



Generic Character. Shell transversely oblong, equivalved, inequilateral, more or 

 less gaping at both extremities; surface smooth or marked by rough and somewhat ir- 

 regular lines of growth ; elongated impressions by the adductors ; mantle-mark with a 

 large; deep sinus ; hinge furnished with one conical tooth in each valve ; ligament 

 external, placed on a prominent fulcrum. 



Animal with very long and extensible siphonal tubes united to their extremities ; 

 mantle closed throughout its length, except a small opening in front for the passage 

 of a short, stout, muscular foot; large and strong adductor muscles. 



This genus is closely related to Mya, in the animal as well as in the shell, differing 

 principally by the position of the hinge-ligament, which in this is placed upon a 

 prominent ridge, and its action consequently different. The animal has very long 

 siphonal tubes, which are incapable of being withdrawn into the shell, and are con- 

 sequently thickened, and covered with a strong coriaceous epidermis. 



In 1839, M. Valenciennes published a valuable monograph of this genus, and 

 described the animal of one species found on the shore of Port Natal, which 

 seems to have been an inhabitant of shallow water, and left dry at the retreat 

 of the tide. Its tubes were observed protruding through the sand, and when 

 alarmed retreated backward by means of its powerful foot to the depth of several 

 feet. 



Some of the Oolitic Fossils belong to this genus. 



Dr. Gray considers the name of Glycimeris, proposed by Klein, 1753, as entitled to 

 be used for this genus, but the date is anterior to our starting point, viz. the 12th 

 ed. Linn., 1767. 



1. Panopea Norvegica, Spengler. Tab. XXIX, fig. 1, a — e. 



MrA Norvegica. Speng. Skrivt. Natu. Silskal, vol. iii, part 1, p. 46, pi. 2, fig. 18. 

 Glycimeris arctica. Desh. 2d ed. Lamarck, torn, vi, p. 70, 1835. 



— Norvegica. Gray. List Brit. Moll., p. 63, 1851. 



Panopea Glycimeris. Bean. Mag. Nat. Hist., viii, p. 562, figs. 50, 51. 



* Etym. Panope, one of the Nereids. Panopea, Hubu. 1816, a genus of Lepidoptera. 



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