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Show 696 DR. GWYN JEFFREYS ON THE MOLLUSCA OF THE [June 7, SCACCHIA TENERA1, Jeffreys. (Plate LXI. fig. 2.) S H E L L oval, thin, rather convex, semitransparent, of a dull hue : sculpture, numerous slight concentric striae, besides stronger and irregular lines of growth : colour whitish : epidermis filmy : margins rounded on all sides, except at the back, where it is uneven: beaks small, circular, projecting beyond the dorsal margin, slightly inclined to one side: hinge-line nearly straight : cartilage-pit small and narrow, placed obliquely under the beak ; hinge-plate rather broad but slight: teeth, in the right valve a small cardinal, in the left none except an angular projection below the beak enclosing the cartilage : inside polished: scars imperceptible. L. 0*175, B. 0*225. 'Porcupine ' Exp. 1870: St. 3a, 6, 16, 17«. A few valves only. An abnormal species of an eccentric genus. DECIPULA2, Jeffreys. S H E L L oval, thin, glossy, completely closed : cartilage triangular, clasping and supporting the hinge : teeth, in one valve a minute cardinal, which lies below the beak, and is not easily seen, with a slight lateral on each side; in the other valve none except a small angular projection of the hinge-plate on the right-hand side. DECIPULA OVATA, Jeffreys. D.ovata (Jeffr.), Friele, Vid. Fdrh. 1875, p. 57; G. O. Sars, Moll. reg. arct. Norv. p. 341, t. 34. f. la-c (as Tellimya ovalis). 'Porcupine' Exp. 1869 : St. 18. A single valve. Distribution. Lofoten Isles, W . Norway, and Bay of Biscay ; 120-552 fms. It somewhat resembles Montacuta ferruginosa in shape; but the hinge is generically different. Brown's generic name Tellimya is a synonym of Montacuta, and includes Kellia also. The specific name ovalis, given by Prof. G. O. Sars, means belonging to an ovation or triumphal procession ; ovata means egg-shaped. 1. MONTACUTA FERRUGINOSA, Montagu. My a ferruginosa, Mont. Test. Brit. p. 44, t. 26. f. 5. Montacuta ferruginosa, B. C. ii. p. 210 ; v. p. 178, pi. xxxi. f. 9. 'Porcupine' Exp. 1869: St. 16, 18, 19, 35 (with variety nivea, which is more regularly oval; and a longer monstrous valve, of a somewhat triangular shape, in consequence of the posterior margin sloping from the beak on each side instead of being rounded in that part), and off Belfast. 1870 : Atlantic, 6, 9, off Cape Espichel, off C. Sagres, 16 (valve of variety nivea, apparently a very old specimen, and having close-set and partly anastomosing marks of growth), 1 7 A ; Mediterranean, Algesiras Bay, Adventure Bank. Distribution. Greenland (M. Sars) 1, arctic Norway to the Mediterranean and Adriatic, Mogador, Madeira, N e w England ; 3-733 fms. 1 Tender. a A deceiving thing. |