68 



POPULAR CONCHOLOGY. 



18. Solemya. — Shell transverse, equivalve, 

 inequilateral, and blunt at the ends ; 

 bosses small ; one cardinal tooth in each 

 valve, much compressed and oblique ; 

 ligament, both exterior and interior; 

 slightly gaping, and covered by a shin- 

 ing epidermis, which extends beyond 

 the margin. Animal having a trunk- 

 shaped foot. — 2 species, recent. 



From New Holland and the Mediterranean, 

 found in the sand. 



Family 4. — Myidce* 



This family is distinguished by having a large 

 spoon-shaped tooth on one or both valves, which 

 are gaping. — There are 6 genera. 



19. Mya. — Shell strong, thick, and trans- 

 verse, both ends gaping, 

 alarge spoon-shaped tooth 

 on the left valve, and a 

 hollow in the other ; liga- 

 ment internal. Animal, 

 a large tube containing two smaller ones pro- 

 ceeds from one end of the shell, and a very 



* Les My aires, Lamarck. 



