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Any one of numerous species of marine bivalve shells of the genus Venus or family Veneridæ. Many of these shells are large, and ornamented with beautiful frills; others are smooth, glossy, and handsomely colored. Some of the larger species, as the round clam, or quahog, are valued for food. Venus's basin (Bot.), the wi…

Not perceivable by the eye; invisible; unseen. "Viewless winds." Shak. Swift through the valves the visionary fair Repassed, and viewless mixed with common air. Pope.

Of the nature of warts; as, a warty excrescence. Warty egg (Zoöl.), a marine univalve shell (Ovulum verrucosum), having the surface covered with wartlike elevations.

A gate, or valve, by which a flow of water is permitted, prevented, or regulated.

used for watering flowers, paths, etc. (b) (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of marine bivalve shells of the genus Aspergillum, or Brechites. The valves are small, and consolidated with the capacious calcareous tube which incases the entire animal. The tube is closed at the anterior end by a convex disk perforated by…

opening at the bottom of the tube. -- Weavers' shuttle (Zoöl.), an East Indian marine univalve shell (Radius volva); -- so called from its shape. See Illust. of Shuttle shell, under Shuttle.

Any one of numerous species of small marine bivalves belonging to Donax and allied genera in which the shell is wedge-shaped.

A volution, or turn, of the spire of a univalve shell.

Any one of various species of marine bivalve shells belonging to the genus Avicula, in which the hinge border projects like a wing.

ous species of hymenopterous of the tribe Urocerata. See Tremex. (d) Any one of several bivalve shells which bore in wood, as the teredos, and species of Xylophaga. (e) Any one of several species of small Crustacea, as the Limnoria, and the boring amphipod (Chelura terebrans). -- Wood carpet, a kind of floor covering…

rist plate (Steam Engine), a swinging plate bearing two or more wrists, for operating the valves.

A genus of marine bivalves which bore holes in wood. They are allied to Pholas.

A genus of marine bivalves closely allied to Teredo, and equally destructive to timber. One species (Xylotrya fimbriata) is very common on the Atlantic coast of the United States.