SOLEN. 133 



VIOLET RAZOR. 

 PL 32. /. 3. Mrs. Mawe. 



22. Solen Diphos. S. testa ovati, recta, lavi ; umbonibus prominentibus. 

 Linn. Syst. Gmel. p. 3226. 



Shell oval, straight, and smooth ; umbones prominent. 

 Valent. Mus. 1. 13. f. 5. Chem. Conch. 6. pi. 7. f. 53, 54. Item 11. pi. 

 198. f. 1933. (Solen Diphos Chinensis). 



In the recent state, this shell is covered with a green- 

 ish epidermis; but, in cabinets, it is generally seen 

 without its native covering, and is of a violet colour, 

 with numerous rays diverging from the apex to the 

 margin ; it gapes at both ends, is rounded behind, but 

 projecting into a beak before; the inside is wholly 

 violet, but on the outside, the violet is mixed with white. 

 Two white rays are figured by Chemnitz, crossing the 

 shell obliquely from the apex ; but these rays were not 

 remarkable in our specimen. The hinge has two teeth 

 in one valve, and one in the other. 



Inhabits the Indian Ocean. 



The variety described by Chemnitz, under the name 

 of Solen Diphos Chinensis, is a rounder shell, with two 

 very conspicuous white rays. 



ROSE-COLOURED RAZOR. 



23. Solen roseus. S. testa rosea, aquivalvi; cardinis dente subbifido, 

 fovece alterius valvee inserto. Linn. Gmel. p. 3227. 



Shell rosy, of equal valves ; hinge with a somewhat bifid tooth, inserted 



into a cavity in the opposite valve. 

 Chem. Conch. 6. pi. 7. f. 55. 



This shell is of an oblong-oval shape, and, beneath its 

 greenish epidermis, is of a faint rose colour, both within 



