Pvn H,i I'UitlS

TELLINA. 383
Var. ovata. Shell smaller, of a more oval form in consequence
of the posterior side not being so much produced, the
oblique striae partially evanescent, and the epidermis of a
greenish tint.
Habitat :
Common
in sandy bays and voes, from
low- water mark to 15 fathoms, on all our coasts. The
variety is from the Hebrides, Lerwick, and Deal Yoe.
This species is fossil in the Belfast deposit (Grainger),
and Mammalian Crag (Searles Wood). Landt has re-
corded it from the Faroe Isles (as T.> fragilissima) ;
Lilljeborg, M 'Andrew, and Malm have taken it in the
Scandinavian seas, at from 3 to 17 fathoms; North of
France (De Gerville and others) ; Carthagena, 7 fathoms
(M f
Andrew) ; Gulf of Lyons (Martin) ; Nice (Verany) ;
Corsica (Requien) ; Algeria (M'Andrew in 35 fathoms,
and Weinkauff) ;
and Sicily (Scacchi, Maravigna, and
Philippi).
This differs from the last species (T. tenuis) in its
smaller size, more oblong shape, and attenuated extre-
mity, fragile texture, much finer sculpture, and especially
in the oblique striation of the right valve. Malm
found the present species in the stomachs of Platessa
vulgaris and Gadus ceglefinus. Gronovius says that the
vernacular name of this shell is " Sny-Boontje." Few
would have suspected that the Dutch, as a people, had
been nearly a century back such discriminating con-
chologists.
It is the Tellinula fragilissima of Chemnitz,
T. vitrea
of Gmelin (from the last-named author, who more suo
changed the original name without taking any notice of
it), T. semistriata of Solander's MS. (according
wyn), and T. discors of Pulteney.
to Dill