' VENUS- 
243 
coasts, mid of which we have examined some scores in their 
various stages of growth, will exhibit a memorable example 
of that confusion of identity which sometimes obscures the 
writings of such as depend on the collation of plates and sy¬ 
nonyms only. Lister has given a very good figure^ marking 
it as English. Gmelin has admirably described it, justly 
remarking* that it differs from V. exoleta, in being less or¬ 
bicular and more convex, in having the struts more raised, 
and in having four teeth. Pulteney and DonoVan described it 
as new, under different specific names. Maton and Rackett 
have copied both* malting it the V. lactca of Donovan, and 
a variety of V. exoleta, likening it at the same time to 
V. verrucosa, and V. Casina. Pennant the younger has 
made it the V. exoleta itself. And to crown all, Mr. Dill- 
wyn has erased Gmelin’s shell from the system, quoting the 
present species as the young of V. exoleta, as the V. lactea 
of Donovan, as the V. excisa of Chemnitz, and as the Y. Ca¬ 
sina of Linn£. v. v* 
25. Venus Montacuti. Montagus Venus. 
Venus compressa. Montagu, pi. 26. f. 1. 
Shell strong, thick, nearly orbicular, flat, slightly grooved 
and irregularly w r rinkled transversely, white or covered with 
a yellowish brown skin j inside smooth, white, with a large 
Cartilage impression near each end, the margin very fiat 
and btoad, from the edge of which it becomes suddenly con¬ 
vex, and is quite plain : beaks prominent, turning to one 
Side, with a small elongated heart-shaped depression under 
them: hinge strong, with two large teeth in each Valve, 
and a transverse tooth-like ridge in one of them : diameter 
from half an inch to an inch. 
It evidently differs from V. sulcata in not having the mar¬ 
gin notched; but we have some doubts whether it may not 
be the young of V. Scotica. The only difference appears 
to be, that the transverse ridges are not in that regular 
elevated cord-like manner. 
We concur with Mr. Dillwyn, that as the specific name 
nf compressa had been preoccupied by Linne, the name of 
frm who first described it should supply its place. But as 
all specific as well as generic names are of Latin origin, we 
have ventured to irive it a more classical termination. In 
y 2 the 
