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Show 1901;] MOTHER-OF-PEARL OYSTERS. 389 Species 23. MARGARITIFERA RADIATA. Avicula radiata, Leach, 1814, vol. i. pi. 43, p. 98; ? West Indies. Avicula squamulosa, Lamarck, 1836, tab. 7, p. 100; Brazil. Avicula squamulosa, Lamarck, d'Orbigny, 1847, torn. 5, p. 658, no. 761 ; Rio de Janeiro, coasts of Brazil, Antilles (Cuba, Martinique, Guadeloupe, aud Santa Lucia). Avicula fiabellum, Reeve, 1857, sp. 7 ; hab. Venezuela. Type in B.M. Avicula (3Ieleagrina) fiabellum, Reeve, Dunker, 1872, p. 20, tab. 6. fig. 1 ; hab. Porto Cabello, Venezuela. Avicula alaperdicis, Peeve, 1857, sp. 10; Antilles. (Type apparently not extant in British Museum.) Avicula assula, Reeve, 1857, sp. 40; Antilles. (Type apparently not extant in British Museum.) [ Probably also the following species of Dunker :-• Avicula (Meleagrina) echinus, Dkr. 1872, p. 40, tab. 13. fig. 2 ; Havana. „ „ horrida, Dkr. 1872, p. 11, tab. 2. fig. 4, tab. 15. fig. 2; Venezuela and Antilles. „ „ longisquamosa, Dkr. 1872, p. 12, tab. 2. fig. 6 ; Porto Cabello, Venezuela. ., „ olivacea, Dkr. 1872, p. 17, tab. 4. fig. 5 ; Antilles. „ ,, tamsiana, Dkr. 1852, p. 78; 1872, p. 15, tab. 4. figs. 1 & 2; Porto Cabello, Venezuela.] The West Indian Pearl-Oyster. This species has been treated to a number of synonyms, mostly based upon characters of a nature quite valueless for systematic purposes. Lamarck and d'Orbigny both emphasize the great variability of colour in this shell. It remains yet to be proved that there is more than one species of Margaritifera in the West Indies and on the Atlantic Coasts of Tropical America. The West Indian Pearl-Oyster yields pearls in many localities, but is practically valueless as Mother-of-Pearl. Conchologically, it seems to be closely allied to tbe Lingah shells, but the posterior process of the hinge is smaller, and the form often more nearly approaches to that of the subgenus Electroma. Species 24. MARGARITIFERA LURIDA. Avicula lurida, Gould, 1850, p. 310; 1852, p. 440. pi. 39 fig. 550 : Fiji Islands. Specimens in the British Museum, coll. J. Brenchley, Esq., from Tongatabu, Friendly Islands, are quite in agreement with Gould's figure and description of Avicula lurida. At first sight this species suggests a small convex example of 31. margaritifera, but the presence of hinge-teeth and of a sinus in the posterior margin proves this resemblance to be purely superficial. PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1901, VOL. I. No. XXVI. 26 |