This genus of shells is numerous and varied. It surpasses all bivalve
shells in beauty, and is in form very like the Cytherea, but easily
distinguished by the hinge, which almost invariably contains three
approximate teeth, and a lateral tooth diverging to the summit. The
internal margin of the valves is crenated or dentated, with or without
lamellar striæ.
The shells are of the most beautiful and lively tints; the exterior as
well as the interior colouring is of almost every possible shade and
hue. They are found buried a little below the surface on the sandy
shores of most parts of the world, particularly in warm climates.
Shell solid, thick, regular, perfectly equivalve and close, more or less
inequilateral; summits well marked, inclined anteriorly; hinge
sub-similar; the middle cardinal tooth forked, or three cardinal teeth
more or less contiguous and convergent towards the summit; ligament
thick, often arched, convex, and exterior; two distant muscular
impressions; cordiform depressions beneath the beaks.
Venus puerpera.
V. reticulata.
V. pygmæa.
V. corbis.
V. verrucosa.
V. rugosa.
V. casina.
V. crebiscula.
V. crenulata.
V. discina.
V. granulata.
V. marica.
V. cingulata.
V. cardivides.
V. grisea.
V. elliptica.
V. Dombeii.
V. mercenaria.
V. lagopus.
V. gallina.
V. gallinula.
V. pectinula.
V. sulcata.
V. lamellata.
V. exalbida.
V. rufa.
V. dorsata.
V. hiantina.
V. crassisulca.
V. corrugata.
V. Malabarica.
V. papilionacea.
V. adspersa.
V. punctifera.
V. turgida.
V. literata.
V. florida.
V. petalina.
V. bicolor.
V. floridella.
V. catenifera.
V. pulchella.
V. sinuosa.
V. tristis.
V. plicata.
V. cancellata.
V. pectorina.
V. sulcaria.
V. textilis.
V. texturata.
V. geographica.
V. rariflamma.
V. decussata.
V. pullastra.
V. glandina.
V. truncata.
V. retifera.
V. anomala.
V. galactites.
V. exilis.
V. scalarina.
V. Scotica.
V. aurea.
V. virginea.
V. marmorata.
V. ovulæa.
V. laterisulca.
V. callipyga.
V. opima.
V. nebulosa.
V. phaseolina.
V. carneola.
V. flammiculata.
V. conularis.
V. strigosa.
V. aphrodina.
V. Perronii.
V. aphrodinoides.
V. elegantina.
V. flammea.
V. rimularis.
V. vulvina.
V. vermiculosa.
V. subrostrata.
V. undulosa.
V. pumila.
V. ovata.
V. inquinata.
_V. Casina._ The Casina, or broad-ribbed Venus. Pl. 8, fig. 2.
Sub-orbicular, with transversely acute recurved ridges; lamellar striæ;
crenulated on the hind margin; slightly channelled behind the
depression.
_V. decussata._ The intersected Venus. Pl. 9, fig. 3.
Species sub-rhomboidal, with decussated striæ; margin not denticulated;
umbo placed near one end; the three teeth of the hinge very contiguous
and very weak; exterior brownish and marked with purple lines.
_V. aurea._ The golden Venus.
Sub-orbicular, inequilateral, transversely and concentrically striated;
yellow golden colour.
_V. corbis._ The basket Venus.
Species sub-rhomboidal, deeply latticed; teeth very thick, ligament
entirely concealed, margin dentated.
_V. puerpera._ The convex or spotted Venus.
Species thick, solid, orbicular or sub-orbicular, with concentric striæ,
or, rather, laminæ; teeth very thick; margin dentated.
_V. granulata._ The granulated Venus.
Species thick, solid, cardium-shaped, radiated from the summit to the
base.