CLEIDOTH^RUS.* 



Stutchbury in Zoological Journal, Vol. V., p. 97. Camostree, de Roissy, 



TES FA inaequivalvis, adhaBrens ; dente cardinali 

 conico, in valva libera, in fossulam alterius val- 

 ves inserto ; appendice testaoea, elongata, re- 

 curva, cartilagine convexa, et in cicatriceln 

 profundam infra utrumque iimbonem inserta. 

 Impressiones muscular es, in utraque valva duse, 

 laterales, antica praelonga, postica suborbieu- 

 laris. Impressio paliii integra. Ligamentum 

 internum. 



At first sight this remarkable shell has generally been 

 taken for a Chama^t which it resembles so exactly, that 

 after having ourselves become acquainted with its promi- 

 nent distinguishing character, we feel that we cannot suf- 

 ficiently praise Mr. de Roissy, who has shown so high a 

 degree of critical acumen as to have separated it from 

 Chama, without knowing of the singular circumstance of 

 its having an internal cardinal shelly appendage. This is 

 another Genus which has been fully made known by Mr. 

 S. Stutchbury, who received some specimens in their com- 

 plete state from Port Jackson, in the commencement of 

 1830. He has named it Cleidothaerus, from the remarka- 

 ble circumstance of its internal hinge cartilage, having an 



* So named by Mr. S. Stutchbury " from the Clavicle in the kinge.'^ 



f Of course we mean here to speak of the Lamarckian Genus Chama: it is 

 to be regretted, that however great the merit of that distinguished naturalist 

 has been in distinguishing the real characters of shells, his system is not adopted 

 so generally as it deserves to be. 



