763 



MONOGRAPH OF THE GENUS 



VENERUPIS. 



Fam. Veneridse. 



Char. Gen. Testa aequivalvis, inBequilateralis, irregularis, ple- 

 rumque oblonga; irapressionibus muscularibus duabus subreni- 

 formibus ; pallii impressione sinu magno ; dentibus cardinalibus 

 duobus et tribus compressis. 



The characters of this genus so nearly resemble those of the 

 rock-inhabiting species of Tapes, that it is difficult to separate some 

 of the species. They are more irregular in their growth, are ge- 

 nerally laminated concentrically, sometimes have the margins of 

 the valves gaping, and have more compressed and produced car- 

 dinal teeth. The separation of this genus from the Petricolce is 

 also difficult, and even of doubtful expediency. In the Venerupis 

 however the concentric laminse are the most prominent. 



1. Venerupis Irus (pi. clxiv. f. 1, and var. ? pi. clxv. f. 31, 

 32), Linn. (Donax). Telliua cornubiensis, Pennant, Brit. Zool. 

 Cuneus foliatus, Da Costa. 



V. testa pallida, compressa, oblonga, subquadrata, postice sub- 

 rotundatim angulata, medio depressa, antice brevi; radiatim 

 striata, concentrice laminis tenuibus fimbriatis, postice productiori- 

 bus cincta ; intus pallide fulva. 



This common British shell is found imbedded in limestone 

 rocks on the coasts of Ireland, and the southern coasts of Eng- 

 land and Wales. The varieties f. 31, 32, are doubtful, but not 

 sufficiently characteristic to found a separate species. 



2. Venerupis macrophylla (pi. clxv. f. 20), Deshages, Mu- 

 seum Catalogue and Pro. Zool. Soc. 1853. 



V. testa alba, oblonga, postice vix angulata, antice brevi, ob- 



5 G 



