SOLENELLA. 



TESTA ovalis, sequivalvis, subaequilateralis, 

 compressa, nitens, epidermide olivaceo-viridi, 

 tenui, induta; dentibus, cardinalibus nullis, 

 lateralibiis anticis, in utraque valva, tribus 

 ad quatuor, lateralibus posticis pliirimis, seriem 

 rectiiisculam efformantibus, omnibus parvis, 

 acutis; impressionibus museularibus duabus, 

 lateralibus, subdistantibus ; impressione pallii 

 sinu magno ; ligamento externo, elongate. 



An interesting Genus partaking of the characters of 

 Nucula and Solen, so that it may be regarded as the link 

 connecting the two families of the Solenacece and the Mac- 

 tracer. It belongs to the Solenaceae, having the external 

 ligament and the large sinus in the muscular impression 

 of the mantle, but resembles Nucula, which belongs to 

 the Mactraceae in having the lateral teeth divided into 

 series of minute and pointed teeth, diflPering from it, how- 

 ever, in not having an internal ligament. 



Shell longitudinally oval, equivalve, nearly equilateral, 

 compressed, shining, covered with a thin olive-green epi- 

 dermis ; it has no cardinal teeth, and in each valve only 

 three or four very small anterior lateral teeth ; ihQ posterior 

 lateral teeth, however, are numerous and form a nearly 

 rectilinear series, they are moreover small and sharp 

 pointed, those of one valve exactly fitting between those 

 of the other; this series of small teeth is placed immedi- 

 ately below the fulcrum to which the external, elongated 

 ligament is attached. The muscular impressions are two, 

 lateral and rather distant, and there is a large sinus in 

 that of the mantle. 



A few specimens of this very interesting bivalve were 

 dredged by Mr. H. Cuming at Valparaiso. 



It is the only species we have seen, but Mr. Cuming 

 informs us that he has met with another. We have named 

 it Solenella Norrissii. 



