SAXICAVA, 



Lam. 



• 



Mya, Nonnul, Mytilus, Nonnul. Hiatella, Daud. Byssomya, Cuv, 

 Cardita, Brug. Solen minutus, Lam. et Nonnul. 

 Biapholius et Pholeobius, Leach. 



TESTA transversa, irregularis, plerumque ob- 

 longa, inaequilatera, subinaequivalvis, latere 

 antico hiante. Ligamentum ewternum. Impres- 

 siones musculares duae, laterales : impressio pal- 

 lii adhaerentis museuli, interrupta, sinu nullo. 

 Car do testae junioris, dentibus interdum duo ad 

 quatuor minutis, obtusis, plerumque indistine- 

 tis, adultae obsoletis. 



The shells which we include in the Genus Saxicava have 

 had^ in conformity with the various views of authors, at 

 least six different generic names. While in contradiction 

 to so many great authors, we unite under one generic 

 name, shells that have been arranged by them under seve- 

 ral different genera, we are sensible that we shall incur the 

 displeasure of many of our readers; we will not therefore 

 venture upon so hazardous a step without detailing the 

 reasons which have convinced us, and which we think will 

 convince the most sceptical that we are right. We must, 

 however, premise, that it will not be disputed that Solen 

 minutus of Chemnitz and Montagu, Hiatella arctica of 

 Daudin, Cardita arctica of Bruguiere, and the Byssomya 

 of Cuvier, are one and the same species: that Leach's 



