244 



POPULAR CONCHOLOGY. 



Corhula n 



Coebula. Brug. — Shell short, thick, and sub-globose., 

 ine qui valve, and inequilateral, not gaping ; one 

 cardinal spoon-shaped tooth in each valve, no 

 lateral, but on one side a deep pit for the in- 

 sertion of the ligament ; the pallial impression 

 has a small sinus. Animal, short, with very 

 short united siphonal tubes ; orifices fimbri- 

 ated; mantle closed, except in front, where 

 there is an opening for a bony, narrow, thick foot of con- 

 siderable dimensions ; anal siphon with a conspicuous 

 tubular membrane ; labial tentacles slender.* — 43 species f ; 

 also fossil. 



These small shells are met with in the seas of New 

 Holland, China, the Philippines, South America, and New 

 Zealand. \ They are pretty shells, often coloured within. 

 Corhula nucleus and ovata are British. D'Orbigny states 

 that some species live in brackish water, or even fresh. 



This genus has been divided into the following genera : 

 Potamomya Sow. ; Ervilia and Sphenia Turton. 



Necera. Gray. (Cuspidaria Nardo.) — Shell like Ana- 

 tina but having a small 

 spoon-shaped process, and 

 posterior lateral tooth in 

 one valve, and an unde- 

 fined ligamental pit, with 

 no lateral tooth in the 

 other. § Animal, oblong ; 

 mantle closed in front, ex- 

 cept a plain-edged orifice 



* Forbes' s British Moll. t Reeve's Iconica. 



\ One of the few species found in the latter locality Mr. Reeve 

 (in the Iconica) did the author the honour to name after her. She had 

 received the shells from her friend Mr. Swainson, from Port Nicholson. 



§ Sow., Conch. Manual. 



