late worthy Commander, the much regretted Captain Cook, in
lm firft Voyage round, the World : it was in the PortlandiMufeum,,
and was named by the. late celebrated Dr. Solander in his MSS
defcription of the /hells of that fplendid cabinet Anonua venofa,
winch fpecimen is now in the collection of M. Calonne, of London.
This kind (as do alt that are properly o f this genus) adheres
to coral rocks,, by a ligament that comes from the animal through,
the hole in the larger valve.
The internal ftruaure (peculiar to fhells of this genus) is very
lingular, and confifts, of two teftaceous rays, which commence
near the hinge in the lefler valve, where they adhere; from whence,
leaving the fhell, they proceed to near the edge, then bend towards
the other valve, and turn back to their commencement,
where they unite : this internal part is very, delicate, and breaks
upon the fmalleft touch, but is thicker in the part neareil to the
larger valve. The Ihell takes , its name from certain parts of the
animal, which run in a branched form along the infide o f the;
Ihell, which being held to a ftrong light, -or a candle, gives it a.
beautifully veined appearance. The outlide is. fmooth, and of a.
pale brown colour.
The fpecimen from which the engraving was made, is in the :
privatejjcollection of Mr. George Humphrey, dealer in natural,
curiofities, Albion-ftreet, near Black-friars Bridge, London.
Undertlanding, after I came home, that: feme of the birds I
hrought with me had, not been engraved, though defcribed by
authors, particularly the new fpecies by Mr. Latham, and prefuming