SOLEN. RAZOR-SHELL. 
159 
end and rounded at the other, covered with an olive-brown 
skin which has variously disposed chesnut marks, beneath 
which it is greyish-white with purplish streaks : valves a 
little convex and rounded, divided diagonally into two very 
acute triangles, the anterior triangle transversely striate, 
the posterior one with longitudinal strike and purplish 
hinds : down the back from the hinge is ailattish space in 
each valve, suddenly sloping and forming a kind of ridge, 
and giving the back margin a keel-like appearance ; inside 
white, with a single tooth and lateral rib in one valve, 
locking between two teeth in the other valve, which has 
also an inclined lateral laminar rib: length from margin to 
margin an inch 5 breadth from one open end to the other 
seven or eight inches. 
Variety. A little curved, like S. Ensis, but is distil** 
gif, shed by the teeth. Lister, pi. 413, lower fig. 
On most sandy shores, v. v. 
2. Solen Novacula. Whetstone Razor-shell. 
Montagu, p.47. 
Shell straight, slender, in every respect resembling the 
last, except in the structure of the hinge, which has one 
strong curved blunt tooth in each valve, turning contrary 
ways and locking into each other, and without the lateral 
knicar ribs. 
On the sandy shores near Laughame in Carmarthenshire: 
we have also found shells which answer this description, 
kt of much smaller size, in Dublin hay : and considering 
the great fragility of the teeth of this family, we have some 
doubt of its specific identity, v. m. 
3. Solen Vagina. Sheath Razor-shell. 
Lister, pi. 410. f. 256, and pi. 1056. f. 5— Pennant,. 
pi 49. f. I -Wood, pi. 27. f. 1—-Dorset Cat . pi. 4. f. 8 . 
Solen marginatus. Donovan, pi. 110. 
Shell straight, slender, covered with an orange-yellow 
skin which is often marked with deep brown blotches, and 
sometimes extends ?.$ much as half an inch beyond the 
margin at the end opposite the hinge, under which it is of 
a p<de orange yellow, very faintly divided diagonally and 
striate like S. Silraua, hut without the ridge and furrow 
P 2 running 
