PLATE CXXXV, 



our coasts. This shell has commonly been described as the A, lactea 

 of Linnaeus ; but that shell is much larger, and is strongly striated 

 in a reticulated manner." 



In the first place, this does not so clearly agree with the Linnaean 

 description as might be expected. In the early editions of the Sj/stema 

 Nature, Linnaeus expressly describes his shell as being of a sub- 

 rhombic form, with obsolete decussating striae, diaphanous, with re- 

 curved beaks, and crenulated margin ; and the only alteration in the 

 specific character to the last edition of that work, by Gmelin, is, that 

 the beaks and margins are not mentioned. It hence is evident that 

 Dr. Pultney is mistaken in the Linnaean lactea, when he says it is 

 strongly striated in a reticulated manner ; for Linnaeus exactly de- 

 scribes it as having the reticulating striae obsolete ; and notwith- 

 standing that the longitudinal striae in the shell found on our coast 

 are rather prominent in some specimens, they far more frequently 

 appear altogether obsolete, and are decussated by fine transverse striae, 

 precisely as Linnaeus mentions. There is another circumstance 

 equally remarkable, Linnaeus exactly tells us his lactea is the size of 

 a horse-bean, and Dr. Pultney, after observing that his British shell 

 crinita " are commonly not much larger than a horse-bean," adds,, 

 that the lactea of Linnaeus is " much larger." 



That there may have been some erroneous references among 

 authors to the two shells figured by Lister, No. 67 and 69, of which 

 we are not aware, is not impossible, but Gmelin refers to List, 

 Conch. 69. A. T. Guernsey, for the Linnaean lactea, and that 

 shell clearly corresponds both with our specimen, and the shell 

 described by Linnaeus, pectunculus cxiguus albus admodum tenuiter 

 Striatic List,-— Pettier is equally satisfactory, Mytilus Garnseias 



G 4 



