CONCHIFERA. 



237 



previously existed." M. Fleuriau de Bellevue, who has 

 examined this family particularly, finds that the animals are 

 phosphorescent. 



Peteicola. Lam. — Shell inequilateral, variously ob- 

 long, transverse, and equivalve, 

 no epidermis ; hinge furnished 

 with two teeth on one valve, 

 and one or two on the other ; 

 slightly gaping. Animal oval, 

 mantle closed in front, except 

 a small opening for a lanceolate 



or pointed foot ; siphons united for nearly half their length ; 

 their orifices fringed with a double series of cirrhi, the longer 

 ones pinnated on one side.* — 15 to 20 species; also fossil. 



Found in many parts of the world in rocks, corals, &c, 

 but most abundant in America. The shell is rather delicate, 

 white, and radiated. Philippi places Choristodon of Jonas 

 as a sub-genus. 



Hupellaria. F. de Bellevue. ( Venerupis Lam. Gas- 

 trana Schum.) — Shell oval, equivalve, 

 inequilateral, very short anteriorily, 

 posteriorily elongated, and obliquely 

 truncated ; hinge having either three 

 teeth in each valve, or three in one 

 and two in the other, which are small, 

 and not diverging ; ligament external ; 

 mantle impression with a deep sinus. 

 Animal, having the mantle cleft as far as the siphons, which 

 are very thick, short, united almost to the ends, beset with 

 cirrhi at the opening; foot small, pointed, having a byssus ; 

 the gills are connected nearly the whole length, semicir- 



Rupellaria. 



* Forbes's British Moll. 



