721 



The concentric laminae vary in number and in the degree in 

 which the two posterior lobes are produced ; at the anterior side 

 they are slightly lobed and raised upwards, so as to be quite con- 

 tiguous to the edge of the small lunule. 



Philippines. Cuming. 



62. Venus Beer^i (pi. clx. f. 170-173), Gray, in W. S. t. 2. 

 f. 2. Var. V. gravescens, Menhe, Philippi, Abbild. pi. 5. f. 2. 



V. testa oblique ovali, subtrigona, albo-grisescente nonnunquam 

 fusco fasciatim radiata, intus postice violacea, laminis erectiuscu- 

 lis postice subquadratis antice sublobatis versus marginem ventra- 

 lem magis frequentibus concentrice cincta; latere postico produc- 

 to, subacuminato ; area dorsali elongata, arcuata, planulatim ex- 

 cavata ; latere antico brevissimo ; umbonibus depressis ; lunula 

 ovali, impressa ; margine intus crenulato. 



More oblique than any of the preceding species of the same 

 group. The concentric laminae increase in number towards the 

 ventral margin, at the same time decreasing in developement ; 

 the dorsal area is large, and arched ; the anterior side of the shell 

 very short, with the umboes curved downwards. In the variety 

 named V. gravescens by Philippi, the lunule is dark brown, and 

 the laminae in front more distinctly lobed and angular. 



China. 



63. Venus alta (pi. clviii. f. 131, 132, 133), Sowerby, jun. 



V. testa oblique subtrigona, alta, albo-grisescente, nonnunquam 

 fusco radiata, intus postice violacea; lamellis concentricis sub- 

 reflexis, acutis, postice subangulatis et bilobatis, antice vix ele- 

 vatis, angulatim lobatis; area dorsali lata, planulatim excavata; 

 latere antico brevi, valde declivi, inter lunulam et laminas plana ; 

 margine interno crenulato. 



More triangular than V. thiara, the laminas less reflected and 

 less produced, not so much raised in front, and leaving a space 

 between their terminations and the lunule. The dorsal margin is 

 less curved and broader. This latter difference between the 

 species is the one to be relied on ; without it I should not have 

 thought it right to separate them, seeing the changeable character 

 of both species in other respects. 



Philippines. Cuming. 



64. Venus calophyla (pi. clx. f. 176), Hanley, Recent 

 Shells, Appendix, Suppl. pi. 16. f. 26. V. thiara, Dilkvyn, Reeve, 

 Conch. Syst. 



