690 



be easily distinguished from others. The inside is generally bright 

 orange, from which, however, a variety [V. vermicidosa, Lam.) 

 from Sardinia is exempt. 



Great Britain and the Mediterranean and Northern seas. 



39. Tapes texturata (pi. cxlix. f. Ill), Lamarck (Venus) 

 Anim. sans vert. no. 43. 



T. testa ovali-subcordata, subplanulatim crebre sulcata, utrinque 

 subacuminata, fulva, rufo-reticulata,, intus aurea ; margine dorsali 

 subangulato, declivi, antice brevi, lunulato ; margine ventrali 

 paululum rotundato. 



The ventral margin has not the same sudden swell that charac- 

 terizes that of T. aurea, and the sulci are rather more distant and 

 less rounded, particularly at the back part of the shell ; in other 

 respects it is difficult to distinguish this species, except by its 

 markings, which are peculiar, consisting of reddish-brown reticu- 

 lations. It may nevertheless be regarded as distinct. 



Indian Ocean, Lamarck. In Hanley's and Cuming's collections. 



40. Tapes virginea (pi. cxlix. f. 81, 82, 83, 84, test. jun. f. 

 92), Linn. (Venus), Syst. Nat. ed. 13. p. 1136. Venus rhomboides, 

 Pennant. Cuneus fasciatus, Da Costa. Venus Sarniensis, Turion. 

 Venus virago, Loven. Tellina elliptica, Brown. 



T. testa ovali-oblonga, subcompressa, alba, roseo tincta et fas- 

 ciata, vel fulva, intus roseo tincta, sulcis ad latera subdistantibus 

 subplanulatis lirata ; latere postico elongato, obtuse subtruncato ; 

 latere antico brevi rotundato ; margine dorsali rectiusculo, paulu- 

 lum depresso ; lunula elongata, iinpressa, declivi. 



Of an oblong oval form, rather compressed, with grooves which 

 are rather more distant and strong at the sides than in the middle. 

 The ventral and dorsal margins are both rather straight ; the an- 

 terior end short and rounded, the posterior obtusely truncated. 

 The prevailing colour is pinkish-white, with rays of brighter pink 

 and a rose tint inside. The very young shell is smooth. 



North Sea, shores of Great Britain, and the Mediterranean. 



41. Tapes Cumingii (pi. cl. f. 128), 8owerhj,jun. 



T. testa elongata, compressa, grisescente, fusco postice virgulata, 

 antice interruptim radiata, postice elongata, gradatim angustata, 

 ad terminum acuminata, autice brevi, rotundata, paululum ascen- 

 dente, omnino minute divaricatim striata. 



This shell is remarkable in form and sculpture, being some- 

 what of an elongate rhomboid, but tapering to almost a point at 



