90 MYA. 



* With teeth not inserted into the opposite valve. 



ABRUPT GAPER. 

 PI. 11. f. 1, 2. Dr. Coombe. 



I. Mya truncata. M. testa ovata, postice truncata; cardinis dente 



antrorsum porrecto, ohtusissimo. Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 12. p. J 112. 



Linn. Gmel. p. 3217. 

 Shell oval, truncated behind ; hinge with a very blunt tooth projecting 



forwards. 

 List. Conch, t. 428. f. 269. Petiver Gaz. t. 79. f. 12. Penn. Brit. 



Zool. 1812. vol. 4. pi. 44. Da Cost. Br. Conch, pi. 15. f. 1, 2. 



Chemn. Conch. 6. pi. 1. f. 1, 2. Encyclop. Method, pi. 229. f. 2. a. b. 



Donov. Brit. Shells, t. 92. Mont. Test. Brit. p. 32. Linn. Trans. 6. 



pi. 14. f. 1, 2. and 8. p. 35. 

 /3. lis*. Cowc/i. t. 429. f. 270. 



A strong, broad, truncated shell, concentrically 

 wrinkled, and covered with a tough ochreous epidermis, 

 which extends beyond the open end, and is the sheath 

 through which the animal protrudes its tubular neck. 

 The valves very concave, and turned a little outwards at 

 the gaping end. The tooth broad and erect. Inside 

 white, with a strong muscular depression near the supe- 

 rior angle at the open end. When the epidermis is 

 removed, the shell is generally of a chalky white. 



Inhabits the European seas, and is said by Fabricius 

 to be eaten by the inhabitants of Greenland. It is not 

 uncommon on the British coasts, and many specimens, 

 but chiefly single valves, are thrown upon our shores. 

 Mr. Montagu states that he has taken it alive on the 

 coast of Devonshire, measuring two inches and a half 

 in length, and three inches and a half in breadth. 



Lister's figure in pi. 429. is evidently intended for this 

 shell ; but it varies in being less truncated than usual. 

 The reference by Linnaeus, to Gualtieri, t. 91. f. D. is 

 omitted the figure being very unlike the M. truncata. 



