138 Cliusan Shells. [No. 2. 



Coebioula etjscuta, (Lamarck.) 



Testa cordata subinaaquilaterali fuscovirente, tumidiuscula, polita, 

 intus et ad nates violacea, extrinsecus sulcis crebris circumdata, rugis 

 intersitis subimbricatis ; margine interiori plerumque nigrescente ; 

 natibus decorticatis. Lat. 1.3, Long. 1.15 poll. 



This appears to be Cyrena fuscata of Lamarck, belonging to the 

 division which Megerle has separated under the name of Corbicula, 

 and which is well distinguished with reference to the minutely 

 serrated and elongated laminar lateral teeth. The plica on the out- 

 side of the valves are more distant than in our Indian species. 



" Found in the mud in the canals ; sold in the market." 



Venus sinensis, Auctorum. 



Testa orbiculata, convexa, albida, marginibus violaceis denticu- 

 latis, extrinsecus radiis violaceis plicisque concentricis exilissimis 

 ornata ; disco plerumque ferrugineo ; dente cardinali postico, bifido 

 ssepe bilobato, laminae cardinalis extremitate postica concavata. 

 Long. 1.7, Lat. 1.65. 



Icon. Wood, PI. 8, fig. 76, non bene. 



In most specimens, the coloured rays are confined to the posterior 

 half of the shell ; but occasionally, they pervade the whole disk, and 

 decussate the concentric plaits in such a manner, as to deceive the 

 eye, and to cause the belief that there is a radiate striate sculpture. 

 The siphonal scar cuts sharply through the sub-marginal impres- 

 sion, and ends in a point near the centre of the shell, as in Artemis 

 lincta, and, in a less degree in Venus gallina. 



" Dr. Cantor never saw this bivalve alive, but judging from the 

 number of shells lying about houses at Chusan, it must be a com- 

 mon article of food. According to the Chinese, it is an inhabitant 

 of the canals." 



Sanguinolaria iridescens, Benson. 



Testa subelliptica, compressa, albida, iridescente, versus apicem 

 incarnata, exilissime transverse striata, striis obsoletis radiatim de- 

 cussata ; latere postico subrostrato, subangulato, antico longiore, 

 rotundato. 



