CONCHIFERA; 487 
Synonyms, Hypogzea, Poli. Vagina, Megerle. Ensis, Schum. 
~ Ensatella, Sw. 
Shell very long, sub-cylindrical, straight, or slightly recurved, 
margins parallel, ends gaping; beaks terminal, or sub-central ; 
Fig. 264. Solen siliqgua, L. +; the valves forcibly opened, and mantle divided as far as 
the ventral foramen, to show the foot. 
hinge-teeth 2; ligament long, external; anterior muscular 
impression elongated; posterior oblong; pallial line extending 
beyond the adductors; sinus short and square. 
Animal with the mantle closed except at the front end, and a 
minute ventral opening; siphons short, united, fringed; palpi 
broadly triangular ; foot cylindrical, obtuse. 
Distribution, 33 species. World-wide except Arctic seas ;— 
100 fathoms. 
Fossil, 40 species. Carb.—. United States, Europe. 
The Razor-fishes live buried vertically in the sand, at extreme 
low water, their position being only indicated by an orifice like 
a key-hole; when the tide goes out they sink deeper, often 
penetrating to a depth of one or two feet. They never volun 
tarily leave their burrows, but if taken out soon bury themselves 
again. They may be caught with a bent wire, and are excellent 
articles of food when cooked. (Forbes.) 
CULTELLUS, Schumacher. 
Type, C. lacteus, Pl. XXITI., Fig. 5. 
Etymology, cultellus, a knife. 
Shell elongated, compressed, rounded and gaping at the ends ; 
hinge-teeth 2.3 ; beaks in front of the centre, supported inter- 
nally by an oblique rib; pedal impression behind the umbonal 
rib; posterior adductor trigonal; pallial line not prolonged behind 
the posterior adductor; sinus short and square. 
Animal (of C. Javanicus) with short, fringed siphons; gills 
narrow, half as long as the shell, transversely plaited; palpi 
large, angular, broadly attached; foot large, abruptly trun- 
eated. 
Distribution, 5 species. Africa, India, Nicobar. 
Sub-genera. Ceratisolen, Forbes. (Polia, D’Orbigny. Pharus, 
