94 COILECIIOIfS PKOM MELANESIA. 



has a remarkably deeply sunken lunulb ; it is 34 millim. long, 

 31 high, and 28 in diameter. 



5. Venus torresiana. (Plate VI. figs. M-M 2.) 



Shell suhovate, moderately thick, nearly equilateral, concentri- 

 cally finely ridged and radiately sulcated, white, irregularly rayed, 

 streaked, and spotted with lightish brown. Anterior and posterior 

 ends subequal, obtusely rounded, the latter rather the narrower ; 

 ventral margin broadly arcuate. Posterior dorsal slope straightish, 

 rather more oblique than in front. Lunule narrowly cordate, gene- 

 rally of a chocolate-brown colour, partly so or merely whitish. 

 TJmbones small, red at the tip. Concentric ridges somewhat flat- 

 tened, crowded, and subnodulous anteriorly through being crossed by 

 the radiating striae, thin and lamellar behind. Striae less distinct 

 on the central portion of the valves than at the extremities, and 

 finer and closer together down the posterior side than elsewhere. 

 Interior more or less pinkish, finely creiiulated at the margin. 

 Pallial sinus moderate, sharply rounded. Length 16 miUim., 

 height 12|, diameter 8. 



Hah. West Island, Prince of "Wales Channel, and Thursday Island, 

 Torres Straits, 4 fms. (Ooppinger). 



This species is somewhat like V. (Ohione) mesodesma, Quoy and 

 Gaimard, but is distinguished by its greater length and difiference of 

 colour in the interior. It is also not so high, the concentric riblets 

 are thin and lamellar posteriorly ; and the presence of radiating 

 striae at once separates it from the New-Zealand form. There are 

 several specimens from the abov^ localities, all having a rosy tip to 

 the beaks, the lunules more or less dark-coloured, the ridges thin 

 posteriorly, and the striaB in the same region finer and more numerous 

 than elsewhere. 



6. Venus gladstonensis. 



Anffas, Proc. Zool. Soo. 1872, p. 612, pi. 42. fig. 8. 



Hab. Port Curtis (Angas and Goppinger). 



This species is remarkable for the fineness of the concentric 

 lameUee, which exhibit the radiating slender lirae on the outer side 

 as is the case with other species. The crenulation of the inner 

 margin of the valves is also excessively fine, and the pallial sinus is 

 of moderate size and not very acute. • 



7. Venus subnodulosa. 



Hanley, Cat. Bivalve Shells, p. 360, ]61. 16. fig. 19 ; Seeve, Conch. Icon. 

 fig. 102 ; Deshayes, Cat. Conch. Miv. p. 143, as Chione. 



Hah. Philippine Islands {Hanley) ; Moreton Bay {Strange in coll. 

 Cuming); Port Curtis (C7oppmsrer). 



This species is remarkable for the stoutness of the concentric 

 ribs, which are rendered more or less subnodose by fine radiating 



