210 
proved by the impressions within the valves ; and by a 
byssus, for which there is a sinus under the anterior ear. 
It is probable that when the byssus is by any accident 
lost, or when the shell becomes too heavy to be conveni- 
ently retained by it, resort is had to the expedient of 
fixing the shell by spreading the squamae, as they are 
formed at the edges, upon any neighbouring substance. 
The fossil species belong apparently to the Crag, or a 
deposit immediately succeeding to the London Clay. 
HINNITES Dubuissoni. 
TAB. DCI. 
Spec. Char. Shell rather thick, oblong; right 
valve covered with concentric circles, the 
other charged with elevated rays, which are 
imbricated near the margin. 
Syn. Hinnites Dubuissoni. De France , Diction - 
aire des Sciences Naturelles , 21. 170. Des 
Hayes , Diet. Classique d' Hist. Nat. 201. 
Gray , Annals of Phil, new series, 12. 104. 
G . B. Sowerby , Zool. Journal , 3. 70. 
The left valve is flat, ovate, the hinge and ears pro- 
duced, the surface marked with many irregular elevated 
thin rays, which towards the margin are elevated into 
numerous semicylindrical scales. We have not seen the 
other valve. It is described as convex, with only con- 
centric lines that mark the successive additions to the 
shell, and not fimbriated as in the H. Cortesyi, the other 
fossil species. 
We have not seen an authentic specimen of H. Du- 
buissoni, but are induced to refer the shell before us to 
that species, although we have not seen the right valve ; 
because the squamae upon this are most numerous near 
the edge, and are not flat as in our specimen of H. Cortesyi, 
which we received direct from M. De France. 
Found in the Crag of Ramsholt by Searles V. Wood, 
Esq., of Woodbridge, who liberally entrusted us with 
such a rarity for publication. 
