The _scutum_ has either one very broad and deep longitudinal furrow (2 _b_), or two moderately broad and deep (2 _e_), or two narrow and deep, or less frequently one narrow and inconspicuous longitudinal furrow (2 _f_); rarely there is not one furrow; sometimes there are none towards the apex, whilst furrows have been formed in the lower part of the valve. In young specimens the furrows extend down to the actual basal margin, but in old specimens they often fall short of this, and, as a consequence, the furrows become crossed by one, two, or three calcareous ridges, which ridges at successive periods formed the basal margin of the valve. The external surface is covered by yellow membrane; and fragments of several successive opercular membranes are often attached to the zones of growth. Internally the articular ridge is not very prominent, but is remarkable (2 _c_, 2 _d_) from its lower point being produced into a long, sharp, sub-cylindrical, free style (like the hinge of a common gate), which is generally broken off in disarticulating the valve from the tergum. The adductor ridge is either sharp and prominent or blunt: it extends up the middle of the valve nearly to the apex, and downwards it trends a little towards the occludent margin. The pit for the lateral depressor muscle is minute but deep: the basal margin is sometimes hollowed out under this pit. Sometimes there is a distinct, but blunt ridge, caused by one of the furrows outside, parallel to the adductor ridge, and placed between it and the little pit for the lateral depressor; in this case, the basal margin, as viewed internally, is rendered sinuous (2 _d_), as is best exhibited in the great fossil specimens from Coquimbo. _Tergum_ (2 _g_).--Spur of moderate length and breadth, with its lower end obliquely truncated and rounded. The longitudinal furrow has its edges somewhat folded in. The basal margin on the carinal side of the spur is sometimes a little hollowed out. The crests for the depressor muscles are well developed; but the corner of the valve supporting them is extremely thin, and is often imperfectly calcified. _Compartments._--The parietal tubes are not crossed by transverse septa, but in their upper parts are filled up solidly. The radii are always very narrow, with their summits oblique, though to a variable degree: their sutural edges have fine and closely approximate septa, with minute denticuli: the sutural edges are received in a furrow, on the opposed compartment, of unusual depth; hence the lines of suture run, in the lower part of the shell, almost exactly in the middle between each two compartments. The alæ are added to above the level of the opercular membrane.