Pvn H,i I'UitlS

344 VENERIB.E.
gated, as that of southern examples from shallow water.
Other specimens from each of these localities and habitats
are either sulphur-yellow or chalky- white. The young
are squarish, and resemble a Cardium in shape and sculp-
ture; the fry are round, perfectly smooth, and glossy.
Sometimes the shell is twisted, and the longitudinal ribs
are not formed in every part, especially towards the
front.
If it were not for the links connecting this with allied
exotic species, I should have been tempted to separate
V. ovata generically, and to adopt Leach's reputed
name Timoclea for it. The very short tubes, oval shell,
Cockle-like sculpture, and complete striation of the in-
side margin are not unimportant characters. It is probably
the V. lusitanica of Gmelin, and certainly the
Cardium striatum of Walker, V. crenulata of Solander,
V. radiata of Brocchi (but not of Chemnitz nor of
G. B. Sowerby), V. pectinula of Lamarck, V. spadicea of
Renier, and Pasipha'e Pennantia of Leach.
E. Mantle-tubes for the most part united. Shell triangular,
ornamented with concentric ribs ; inside margin notched
on all sides except the posterior one.
8. V. gallina*, Linne.
V. gallina, Linn. Syst. Nat. p. 1130. V. striatula, F. & H. i. p. 408.
pi. xxiii. f. 4, pi. xxiv. f. 4, and pi. xxvi. f. 9-11.
Body white : mantle having its edges fringed with short
line white filaments arranged in tufts, so that it appears to be
sinuous: tubes rather slender, and when extended they are about
half the length of the shell (according to Clark ; but Forbes
and "
Hanley say, very nearly equalling the breadth of the
shell") ; they are of the same length and almost united through-
out, pale sidphur-yellow or bistre, sprinkled with minute redbrown
points, and in some examples slightly tinged with rose
* Hen.