118 POPULAR CONCHOLOGY. 



76. AviCULA. — Shell inequivalve, fragile ; 

 hinge margin straight and lengthened ; une- 



qually eared; minute teeth; a large byssus. 

 Animal, foot conical, worm-shaped, and rather 

 long. — 21 species recent, and 8 fossil. 



There are several beautiful species of the 

 Avicula from the Indian Ocean, coast of Brazil, 

 New Holland, the Red Sea, &c, and one from 

 the Mediterranean. The valves are much in 

 the shape of wings. The interior part is pearly 

 in the centre : some species have a broad black 

 border surrounding it, and the margin termin- 

 ated in a fringe, occasioned either by the epi- 

 dermis or the foliaceous texture of the exterior. 

 The hinge of the A. Macroptera is used for 

 making ornaments (bijoux) called peacock's 

 eyes. 



The Avicula and Meleagrina of Lamarck are 

 now classed together, as the animals resemble 

 each other. 



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