246 



POPULAR CONCHOLOGY. 



other, and a triangular pit ; no lateral teeth ; the spoon-shaped 

 lobe contains the ligament ; muscular impressions strong, 

 pallial impression having a deep tongue-shaped sinus ; an 

 epidermis. Animal, thick, oblong, with much produced 

 siphonal tubes, which are united almost to their extremities; 

 mantle closed, except a rather large anterior opening for a 

 foot of considerable dimensions ; both it, and the siphons 

 are partially invested with an epidermic sheath ; orifices of 

 the tube fimbriated; labial tentacles narrow, triangular, 

 and pointed. * — Several species ; also fossil. 



Found in the mud at the mouths of rivers in temperate 

 climates. 



Philippi places as a sub-genus Cryptodon of Conrad. 



My A. Lin. — Shell strong, thick, and transverse, gap- 

 ing at both ends, equivalve ; a large 

 spoon-shaped tooth in one valve, and 

 a hollow to receive it in the other ; 

 ligament internal; an epidermis 

 which extends over the siphons ; pal- 

 lial impression with a deep sinus. 

 Animal, oblong, with long tubes en- 

 closed in a strong coriaceous epidermis ; mantle closed in 

 front, except anteriorly, where there is an opening for 

 the passage of a small conical foot ; siphons united nearly 

 to their extremities, which have fimbriated orifices ; labial 

 palpi striated.f — Several species ; also fossil. 



The species are found on the shores of European, Asiatic, 

 and African seas, and are used as articles of food in many 

 places. M. arenaria is the British species ; one end of 

 the shell gapes very much, and at the aperture the thick 

 epidermis is lengthened out, so as to cover the siphonal 

 tubes. The animal lies buried in sand and mud, allowing 

 the tubes just to reach the surface. 



* Forbes's British Moll f Ibid. 



Jfya truncata. 



