LINGULA 



cardinal teeth, nor are the two valves in anywise attached 

 to each other when destitute of their animal inhabitant and 

 of the fleshy peduncle. 



Only one recent species of this Genus is known, it is 

 the Patella Unguis of Linne,* and Lingula anatina of 

 Cuvier — it is of a green colour, its apex is truncated and 

 somewhat trilobate; according to Lamarck it is found 

 among the Molucca Islands. Several fossil species are 

 described and figured in Sowerbi/*s Mineral Conchologyy 

 tab. 19; one is not unfrequent in the sand?/ indurated marie 

 of Bognor, identified by many of its fossils with the London 

 Clay ; another is found in a dark coloured Limestone be- 

 longing to the Coal measures (according to Mr. Farey), in 

 the County of Durham ; and a third has been met with 

 in stones which appear to be the debris of Chalk Marie 

 in Alluvium, in Suffolk. 



* It is unnecessary for us to enter into the history of the misapprehen« 

 gions of Conchologists on this singular shell ; suffice it to mention that some, 

 who, like Linne, had probably only seen a single valve, bad considered it to 

 be an operculum. Solander, and others, named it Mytilus Lingua and Ros- 

 trum ; Chemnitz calls it Pinna Unguis; and Seba, who has represented the 

 two valves and its peduncle, took it for a Concha anatifera or pedunculate 

 Lepas (Anatifa of Leach). Cuvier appears rightly to conclude, that Seba's 

 error contributed to this confusion; but there are several points of resemblance^ 

 such as the fleshy peduncle and the ciliated arms of the Lingula, which very 

 well account for Seba^s mistake: the penetratio>n of a CUVIER was requi- 

 Bite to determine the true nature of the animal, and assign to it its proper placQ 

 in the system. 



