44
CORBULID.f:.
with a single erect cardinal tooth in one valve or both, besides
a long lateral tooth on one or each side in either valve ; in
species of Neara there is also a free calcareous ossicle : paUial
scar slight, with a shallow sinus : muscular scars well marked.
These are of small size, and comprised in few genera :
the species are numerous and prolific^ characters wdiich
are probably correlative. The British genera are Poromya, Necera, and Corbula. The first is a box studded
with tiny pearls.
" Ne lesse praisworthie faire Neoera is."
Her shell resembles the body of a bird, without
feet or wings, but having a stretched-out beak; and,
although this age is not barren of artistic invention,
it might serve as a graceful model for some work of
fictile manufacture.
The last has also an apposite
name, and reminds one of a basket with a close-fitting
lid.
The hinge in each genus is constructed somewhat
on the plan of the Mactridce ; but it docs not possess
an external ligament as well as an internal cartilage.
The Corbulidce live in mud and sand at various depths,
but seldom between tide-marks. Lamarck called them
" Corbulees,'' Latreille ^^ Corbulsea,'' and Hinds "Corbulacea.^^
Genus I. POROMY'A-^, Forbes. PL II. f. 3.
Body roundish-oval, thin : tubes unequal in size, clothed
with numerous long filaments : foot narrow and slender.
Shell roundish-oval, slightly inequivalve and inequilateral,
thin and pearly, with the outer layer composed of minute
tubercles
;
posterior side angulated : epidennis membranous
and thin : teeth, in the right valve a short but strong cardinal,
and in the left a minute triangular cardinal and a ridge-like
lateral on the posterior side.
* Passing into the genus Mi/a ; or having, with the shape of that shell,
a tubular structure.
CORBULID.f:.
with a single erect cardinal tooth in one valve or both, besides
a long lateral tooth on one or each side in either valve ; in
species of Neara there is also a free calcareous ossicle : paUial
scar slight, with a shallow sinus : muscular scars well marked.
These are of small size, and comprised in few genera :
the species are numerous and prolific^ characters wdiich
are probably correlative. The British genera are Poromya, Necera, and Corbula. The first is a box studded
with tiny pearls.
" Ne lesse praisworthie faire Neoera is."
Her shell resembles the body of a bird, without
feet or wings, but having a stretched-out beak; and,
although this age is not barren of artistic invention,
it might serve as a graceful model for some work of
fictile manufacture.
The last has also an apposite
name, and reminds one of a basket with a close-fitting
lid.
The hinge in each genus is constructed somewhat
on the plan of the Mactridce ; but it docs not possess
an external ligament as well as an internal cartilage.
The Corbulidce live in mud and sand at various depths,
but seldom between tide-marks. Lamarck called them
" Corbulees,'' Latreille ^^ Corbulsea,'' and Hinds "Corbulacea.^^
Genus I. POROMY'A-^, Forbes. PL II. f. 3.
Body roundish-oval, thin : tubes unequal in size, clothed
with numerous long filaments : foot narrow and slender.
Shell roundish-oval, slightly inequivalve and inequilateral,
thin and pearly, with the outer layer composed of minute
tubercles
;
posterior side angulated : epidennis membranous
and thin : teeth, in the right valve a short but strong cardinal,
and in the left a minute triangular cardinal and a ridge-like
lateral on the posterior side.
* Passing into the genus Mi/a ; or having, with the shape of that shell,
a tubular structure.