SOLECURTUS.
close-set oblique strise, which appear to be impressed by the
persistent epidermis : colour chalkj^'-white : epidermis yellowish-brown, wrinlded at the sides and composed partly of
delicate fibres, which are obliquely arranged : marc/ins and all
other characters as in S. candidus, except that the hinge-plate
is not so much reflected, the principal or larger cardinal teeth
are jagged at their crowns, and the pallial sinus is broader
and not so long. L. 1. B. 2-25.
Habitat : Sand in 4 to 50 f., on all our coasts^ although sparingly. Fossil in the raised sea-bed at Belfast
(Grainger), and in the Coralline Crag, as well as the
Italian upper tertiaries. Bohuslan appears to be its
most northern limit, and the Canary Isles the most
southern.
It also inhabits the intermediate district
and both sides of the Mediterranean, the Adriatic, and
^gean, at various depths ranging from 4 to 40 f.
" We have seen it break up its tubes voluntarily into
fragments, in the manner of the Mediterranean Bolecurtus strigilatiis'^ (F. & H.). Clark says that the
animal, when in confinement, exserts the belly of the
mantle, inflated by water, beyond the margin of the
shell ; but the instant it is irritated, it can place every
organ a I'abri. The shell differs from that of S. candidus in being flatter and wanting the divaricating striae
or ridges.
The Solen coardatus of Gmelin (from a figure in
Chemnitz) is described as inhabiting the Nicobar Isles,
and does not appear to be the present species. Our
shell is the S. ailtellus of Pennant, but not of Linne.
I do not believe that SiUquaria bidens, Chemnitz, is
a native of our seas, the only testimony in favour of it
being that of Pulteney, Boys, Laskey, and Turton. It
is the Solen frarjilis of the three first-named authorities,
and Psammobia tceniata of the last, as well as the Solen
divisus of Spengler.
The locality given by Chemnitz is
close-set oblique strise, which appear to be impressed by the
persistent epidermis : colour chalkj^'-white : epidermis yellowish-brown, wrinlded at the sides and composed partly of
delicate fibres, which are obliquely arranged : marc/ins and all
other characters as in S. candidus, except that the hinge-plate
is not so much reflected, the principal or larger cardinal teeth
are jagged at their crowns, and the pallial sinus is broader
and not so long. L. 1. B. 2-25.
Habitat : Sand in 4 to 50 f., on all our coasts^ although sparingly. Fossil in the raised sea-bed at Belfast
(Grainger), and in the Coralline Crag, as well as the
Italian upper tertiaries. Bohuslan appears to be its
most northern limit, and the Canary Isles the most
southern.
It also inhabits the intermediate district
and both sides of the Mediterranean, the Adriatic, and
^gean, at various depths ranging from 4 to 40 f.
" We have seen it break up its tubes voluntarily into
fragments, in the manner of the Mediterranean Bolecurtus strigilatiis'^ (F. & H.). Clark says that the
animal, when in confinement, exserts the belly of the
mantle, inflated by water, beyond the margin of the
shell ; but the instant it is irritated, it can place every
organ a I'abri. The shell differs from that of S. candidus in being flatter and wanting the divaricating striae
or ridges.
The Solen coardatus of Gmelin (from a figure in
Chemnitz) is described as inhabiting the Nicobar Isles,
and does not appear to be the present species. Our
shell is the S. ailtellus of Pennant, but not of Linne.
I do not believe that SiUquaria bidens, Chemnitz, is
a native of our seas, the only testimony in favour of it
being that of Pulteney, Boys, Laskey, and Turton. It
is the Solen frarjilis of the three first-named authorities,
and Psammobia tceniata of the last, as well as the Solen
divisus of Spengler.
The locality given by Chemnitz is