G70 REPORT— 1863. 



longer, and in the purple colour. This, however, in the figured speci- 

 men, has been brought-out by the free use of acid, and the mai-kings have 

 been considerably obliterated by the " beautifying " process.] _ 



4i Venus simillima, Shy. San Diego, Cal. " Resembles V. compta in detail of 

 sculpture" [but perfectly distinct, belonging to the amathusia group. 

 It shows the evU of the very brief diagnoses of the earlier conchologists 

 that so discriminating an author as Mr. Conrad should have taken this 

 shell for the V. Californiend^, Brod. ; and, quoting it (lapsu) as F. Cali- 

 forniana, redescribed the true V. Californiensis as V. NuttalUi. It is 

 "known by the great closeness of the fine shai-p ribs.] 



i6. Fi:'HHS = ereraifoi!a,no. .33, very distinct var. Gulf Cal. ; more globose, interior 

 pmple rose. [This was sent as " Cape St. Lucas, Xardus." It appeara 

 truly distinct from the W. I. cremdata, and to be the normal form 

 of which pidicana, no. 26, is an extreme var. Inside, and outside in 

 the adolescent state, they agree exactly ; differing outside, in the adult, 

 in smoothed-oii'ribs and more distinct V -markings. Mr. Reeve, however, 

 still thinks it more like crenifera. It may stand as " ? var. lilacina."'] 



47. Vmm ffihhosida, Desh., MS. in Mus. Cum. Hab. ? — [Guaymas : = V. Cortezi, 

 Sloat. This is the more rounded and porcellanous form of V. Jluctifraga, 

 = V. KuttalU of Brit. Assoc. Report, and Nuttallian paper in P. Z. S. 

 1856, p. 21 ; but not the true V. Nuttalli, Conr., v. infra, no. 49. Interior 

 margin very finely crenated on both sides of the hinge.] 



•43. Venus compta, Brod. Bay of Seehura, Peru, coarse sand and mud, 7 fms., 

 C'mning. [This raie species seems to represent V. Californiensis in the 

 South American fauna. It is well distinguished by its shouldered form, 

 produced ventrally, and by the Circoid pallial line, far removed from thei 

 margin. Oiiacomayo, Mus. Smiths.] 



49. Venus NiiUufU, Conr. California. [Named from type, teste Conr. ip?., v. 

 aideii, p. 52(1 This is the dull northern form of V. succiiicta, a-3 fliicti- 

 frctga is of ffibbosttla, the species appearing nearly in the same ppjalleU in 

 the Gulf and on the Pftcific coast, but not found in the Liverpool Reigeu 

 Col. ; nor at C:ipe St. Lncas. In all essential characters, NiUtalli (thon-A 

 pointed) and Californiensis (though rounded) appear the same ; but Mr. 

 Reeve si ill thinks otherwise. The figured specimen has been altered with 

 acid. The V. excavata is not noticed by Mr. R.] 



61. Venus mundulus, Rve. Hob. ? — [This shell was obtained by Dr. Stimpsoa 

 in the N. P. Expl. Exp., and bears the Smiths. Cat. number " 1845. San 

 Francisco, very common at low water," = Tapes clirersa, Shy. jun. This 

 is the highly painted, finely sculptured state of T. staminea, Conr. (not 

 " T. straminea, Coim'." Sby., = T. gi-ata, var.) The abnormally ridged form 

 is V. ntderata, Desh. Conch. Ic. sp. 130. By its large pallial sinus and 

 bifid teeth it is a true Tapes.'] 



C2. Vcwus interseda, Sby. Puerto Puero [FPortrero], Centr. Am., Cuming. 

 [The shell is exactly identical with no. 10, asperrim(i=^cardioides ; but the 

 hg-tire might naislead, the colour-lines appearing as ribs.] 



64. Yetius subrostraia. Lam. * vi. p. 343, = V. neglecta, [Giav] Shy. Hab. Mazfitlaii 

 and West Indies. " Lam. having cited a figure of the CliinaspeLies, V. La.- 

 mm-ckii, the species was lost sight of till Sby. renamed it " [1 heXa»i((/T^- 

 ian species was probably West Indian. V. negleeUi closely resembles 

 the young of V. Californiensis, but has the ligaiuental area smooth only 

 on one valve, instead of both.] 



6£>. Venus Stittchhnryi (Gray), Wood, Sandwich Is. Comes very near to the 

 Californian V. eallosa, [Sby., non] Com-., of wh'ch specimens have been 

 found also at the Sandwich Is. [ V. Stiitclibunji is the New Zealand 

 species, which may easily be confounded with the Californian. Although 

 both may be obtained at the Sandwich Is., there is no evidence that either 



* In critical species, -when it is impossible to be positive which of two or more was 

 intended by an old author, it appears best to retain the name of the first discriminator. 

 The old name belongs to the general form: the discriminator ouglit to retain it for a 

 part; but if tlxat has not been done, it avoids confusion to drop it. 



56 



