aviculidae

pl. [AVICULA.] Wing shells, or Pearl Oysters. A family of Molluscs belonging to the cla Conch if era and the section Asiphonida. They are akin to the Ostreadeæ, or Oysters, but have the umbones of the shell eared, the posterior one so much so as to appear wing-like. They have also two muscular impre ions. The fo il greatly exceed the living species in number. The genera Avicula and Pinna have British representatives. a-vic-u-lo-pěc-těn, s . [From avicula and pecten (q.v.).] A genus of Molluscs placed doubtfully in the family Aviculidae. They combine the characters of the genera Avicula and Pecten. All are fo il. They are found in Britain and elsewhere. from the Lower Silurian to the Carboniferous rocks.