« Venus minima – Venus with a sub-orbicular, somewhat compressed, flesh-coloured shell ; very glossy, with broad, concentric striae ; from the beak two white lines run half way down the shell, in shape like the letter V meeting at the apex ; at the extremity of each line is a red streak, diverging outwards to the margin. In some the white lines are wanting, but we have never seen it without the two spots near the margin ; umbo prominent, pointed, a little turned to one side. Inside glossy white ; margin plain. Length a quarter of an inch ; breadth rather more. This shell is very thick and strong in proportion to its size, and the teeth very conspicuous. It is a rare species, which we have only found sparingly at Falmouth, dredged from the harbour, alive. » – Montagu: Testacea Britannica, London 1803, via BHL.