.s^.

m

^7^-'^^^

w

BMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGsiT (MT-S)

/y

1/ /v".

V C^ ,

C^..

1.0

I.I

1.25

22

!2.0

U 11 1.6

V]

<^

/]

/y

'<m

^^#

c;^

Photographic

Sciences
Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

Wi.3STER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 872-4503

^

,\

%

V

m

."'i-

- *»

-^-\

^\

«o

<>

J^\s

'Q.

w,
^

\

vV

^

CIHM/ICMH

Microfiche

Series.

CIHM/ICMH
Collection de
microfiches.

Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions hi8tcr:que8

Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques at bibtiographiques

The Institute has attempted to obtain the best
original copy available for filming. Features of this
copy which may be bibliographically unique,
which may alter any of the images in ths
reproduction, or which may significantly change
the usual method of filming, are checked below.

D

Coloured covers/
Couverture de coulaur

□ Covers damaged/
C

Couverture endommagee

Covers /'estored and/or laminated/
Couverture restaurde et/ou pellicul^e

Cover title missing/

Le titre de cr <verture manque

Coloured iTv os/

Cartes gioQ.aphiquas en couieur

Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/
Encre de couieur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire)

Coloured plates and/or illustrations/
Planches et/ou illustrations en couieur

Bound with other material/
Rell6 avec d'autres documents

D

n

Tight binding may causa shadows or distortion
along interior margin/

Lareliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la
distorsion le long de la marge intdrieure

Blank leaves added during restoration may
appear within the text. Whenever possible, these
have been omitted from filming/
II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout^es
lors dune restauration apparaissant dans le texte,
mais, lorsque cela 4tait possible, ces pages n'ont
pas iti n'lmies.

L'tnstitut a microfilme le meilleur exemplaire
qu'il tui a et* possible de se procurer. Les details
de cet exemplaire qui sent peut-4tre uniques du
point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier
une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une
modification dans la m6thode normale de filmage
sont indiquds ci-dessous.

r~n Coloured pages/

Pages de couieur

Pages damaged/
Pages endommag^es

Pages restored and/oi

Pages restaurees et/ou pelliculees

I I Pages damaged/

I I Pages restored and/or laminated/

/

Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/
Pages d^cuior^es, tachetdes ou piquees

I I Pages detached/

Pages d^tachees

Showthrough/
Transparence

Quality of prir

Quality inigale de I'impression

Includes supplementary materia
Comprend du materiel supplementaire

Only edition available/
Seule Edition disponibie

r~7] Showthrough/

I I Quality of print varies/

I I Includes supplementary material/

I I Only edition available/

D

Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata
slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to
ensure the best possible image/
Les pages tctalement ou partieilement
obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure,
etc.. cnt 6t§ fi!m6es d nouveau de facon a
obtenir la meilleure image possible.

Additional comments:/
Commentaires supplementaires-

Pagination is as follows : 339 - 351 p.

This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/
Ce document est film6 au taux de reduction indiqu« c -dessoua.
10X 14X 18X 22X

26X

12X

30X

16X

/

20X

24X

28X

32X

re

letails
9S du
nodifier
ir une
ilmage

)S

The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks
to the generosity of:

Department of Rare Boolcs

and Special Collections,

McGill University, Montreal.

The images appearing here are the best qu{ Jity
possible considering the condition and legibility
of the original copy and in keeping with the
filming contract specifications.

Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed
beginning with the front cover and ending on
the last page with a printed or illuatratsd imprea-
sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All
other origfnal copies are filmed beginning on the
first ^age with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, and ending on the last page with a printed
or illustrated impression.

The laat recorded frame on each microfiche
shall contain the symbol «^ (meaning "CON-
TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"),
whichever applies.

IVIaps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at
different reduction ratios. Thoae too large to be
entirsly included in one exposure sro filmed
beginning in the upper left hand comer, left to
right and top to bottom, aa many fra^^nea aa
required. The following diagracns illustrate the
method:

L'axemplaire fitmA fut reproduit grdce d la
ginirosit* de:

Department of Rare Books

and Special Collections,

McGill University, Montreal.

Lac images suivantas ont iti reproduites avec le
plus grand soin, compta tenu de la condition at
de la nettet* de I'exemplaire film«, et en
eonformite avec lea conditions du contrat de
fllmage.

Laa exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en
papier eat imprimte sont filmte en commen^ant
par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la
derniAre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'Impression ou d'illustration, soit par la second
plat, salon le eas. Tous \'M autres exemplaires
originaux sont filmte en commenpant par la
pramiire page qui comporte une empreinte
d'Impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par
la derniire page qui comporte une telle
empreinte.

Un dea symboles suivants apparaitra sur la
dsmiAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le
caa: le symbols — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le
symbols V signifie "FIN".

Las cartaa. planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent itre
fiimte i def taux de rMuction diffirents.
Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre
repreduit en un seul cliche, il dst filmd i partir
de I'angie superieur gauche, de gauche d droite.
et de haut en baa, en prenant le nombre
d'ima^es nAcessaire. Las diagrammes suivants
illustrent la m^thode.

irrata
to

pelure,

n a

3

32X

1 2 3

1

2

3

4

5

6

'L^-^. /^t^c^

iu-u^^

-t>~-2^w^p^^

^'d.

NOTES ON THE
LAND & FRESHWATER MOLLUSCA OF MANTrOBA.

By ROBERT MILLER CHRISTY.

[Reprinted from the Joitrnal of Conchology\.

1km pU\fT

> >v.

JOURNAL OF CONCHOLOGY.

339

NOTES ON THE

LAND & FRESHWATER MOLLUSCA OF MANITOBA.

By ROBERT MILLER CFIKLSTV.

Although ^Manitoba is a country which has of late occasioned
much talk and discussion, it is but comparatively a few years
since it was the undisputed home of the Indian, the Buffalo,
and the Hudson's Bay Company. What little was then known
as to its great agricultural capabilities and its natural products
had principally been collected by survey -parties sent out for
the purpose of selecting the best route across the continent for
the Canadian Pacific Railway, consequently it is but sliglit
wuiAder that very little should be known concerning so com-
paratively uiiiniijortani a bram h of natuial hist(;r_\ as the
niollusca.

Havint^ found occasion t(j visit Manitoba several times
du'ing the last two years, and having alwa)s endeavoured to
obtain as large a series as possible of its moUusca, it is now my
intention to make a few remarks upon the results of niy collect-
ing ; and in so doing it is impossible for me to acknowledge
too fully my great indebtedness to Mr. [. \\ . Taylor who has
been most kind in identifying all my specimens. So little
having hitherto been published upon the subject, I have thc^uglu
it well to make ni) notes as complete as possible by incorporat-
ing with iheni some additional information gained from two
other sources. One of these is a collection of the shells of
Manitoba and the region around the Lake of the Woods
formed by Dr. (i. M. Dawson of the Geological Survey of
Canada, and now exhibited in the Peter Redpatii Museum
at Monti eal ; the other source consists of two lists of
shells collected in the country betueen Winnipeg and York
Factory, by JJr. Robert Bell, also of the Survey, identified by
Mr. J. F. Whiteaves, and published in the Annual Repoits.*

* App. in. (pp. 6i and 6?.) to Mr. Bell's Report of 1878— 79 ; also App.
IV. (pp. 75 and 76) to Mr. Bell's Report of 1879—80.

m

340 LAND AND FRESHWATER MOLLUSCA OF MANITOBA.

The cu.ntributions of these gentlemen are indicated by having
their respective names attached.

Those who entertain the usual English idea that the Mani-
toban winter is an altogether unbearable one, of purely Arctic
inclemency, may at first be surprised to learn that the country
possesses a molluscan fauna at uU ; still more that I am abj',; to
enumerate 72 species. Nor is this idea altogether unreason-
able, for it certainly is somewhat surprising that so many species
should i)e able to exist in a country where the temperature has
been known to be as low as -5o"5° Fahr. At the same time it
should be remembered that the Manitoban summer is a delight-
ful time.

The f>ne great fact which must strike all observers of the
molluscan fauna of Manitoba is the absence from the bare, open
face of the prairies of every single species of land mollusk what-
soever. This absi nee, so far as my experience goes, is total
and comi;lete. On the other hand, the abundance of aquatic
species is extraordinary. Nearly every one oJ the innumerable
lakes and lakelets, so abundantly scattered over the prairies,
contains a surprising number of shells belonging to several
species. When the water has di.sappeared after a |)eriod of
drought, they may often be scraped up by the handful at a time.
Prof Hind, in his " Narrative of the Assiniboine, Red River,
and Saskatchewan Exploring Expeditions of 1857—58," * says
of the southern end of Lake Winni])eg : " The beach and
marshes contain an infinite number of freshwater shells, belong-
ing to the genera He/ix, Bulimus, Suainea, Pupa, Plaiwrbis,
Limnceus, iVc. For many hundred yards the beacli is covered
with perfect or disintegrated forms of these shells thrown up by
the waves on the sand." This strtement serves well to show
the enormous abundance of shells in, the Manitoban lakes ; but
as only two of the genera mentioned inhabit the water, one
cannot help thinking that their identification must be wrong.

* Vol. II., p. 8.

J.C. iv., July, 188

LAND AND FRESHWATER MOLLUSCA OF MANITOBA. 34 1

Of the 72 Species which I am able to record, only i6 inhabit
the land, and even they are only found in moist situations
where 'Jie fire seldom penetrates. This great dearth of terres-
trial species might, on first thoughts, very naturally be attributed
to the excessive frosts, but I believe I am able to assign to it a
much more direct cause, viz.. Fire. If it were attributable to
cold, how is it that thousands of individuals are able to exist in
shallow ponds that must certainly become frozen solid during
winter ? I have elsewhere entered fully into the subject of the
effect produced on the face of the country by the extensive
prairie-fires that have annually swept over it for generations
past* There are good reasons for lielieving that the very
prairies themselves, their treelessness, and their fcrtiliy are
all due, to a large extent, if not entirely, to the action of these
fires. I have further stated my belieff that the complete
absence of earth-worms of every kind from the surface of the
prairies is, in all probability, due to the same cause ; and I see
no reason to sujjpose that the remarkable absence of land shells
is due to any other. The fire annually burns the grass over
which it passes, completely down to the ground, and I have had
many occasions of ol)serving that this would effectually kill any
mollusks that were harbouring among its roots. On the drier
portions of the prairies, s'>ttlers often cut their hay round the
margins of small depressions in which water collects, and shells
— especially Limnseidte— live during the spring. This done,
they set fire to the remaining grass-stalks in order, as they say,
that the grass may come up greener and more succulent the
following si)ring. Under such conditions I have often seen
the shells lying on the dry i>ond-bottom completely scorched
and calcined by the flames. It seems to me, therefore, in every
way probable that these prairie fires are the cause of this absence
of terrestrial mollusks from the face of the country, especially

* 'Manitoba Described,' p. 20. Wvman <k Sons, Great Queen Street,
W.C. 1885.

t ' Nature,' Jan. 3, 1884, p. 213.

;i42 LAND AND KKESHWATER MOLLUSCA OF MANITOHA.

as aquatic species, in astonishing abundance, ore found in all
the i)onds, lakes, sleughs, and streams.

Most of my collerting was done in the vicinity of the town
of Carberry, which is surrounded i)y a dry, level i)rairie, known
as the Big Plain. Others of my specimens I obtained from the
many moist spots or ponds occupying the hollows of the rolling
i-rairie around the City of Brandon ; others from the innumer-
able ponds and lakes everywhere dotting the country between
Brandon and Fort Rllice ; others from depressions in the level
sandy prairie south of Beaver Creek, near Fort Ellice ; while
others are from the Red River, the Souris, and the Assiniboine.
One great feature of the prairie-region, of which Manitoba forms
part, is the extraordinary number of lakes and lakelets. Their
number is enormous, especially in some localities. They are
of all sizes from the dimensions of one's sitting-room up to the
size of Lake Winnipeg ; but the most common size is from
one-quarter to half-an-acre. The smaller ones dry up com-
pletely during the summer and autumn ; while the water in the
larger ones becomes greatly lowered, to be raised again by the
melting of the snow in the spring. Myriads of mollusks must
come into existence every spring, only to be killed by the drying
up of the ponds later in the year. To such an extent is this the
cnse that one is almost led to wonder that their extermination
does not ensue. When crossing, last October, the wide stretch
of level sandy prairie south of Beaver Creek, I was surprised to
find the ground strewn for long distances— often n mile or a mile
and a half — with bleaching fresh-water shells, showing clearly the
extent of the waters in the spring-time, though I saw but few
pools. LivtiKca palustris was the commonest species under these
conditions ; but, in the deeper depressions, where rushes grew,
there were others, including Bulinus hy/>norum, SphcRtium
jayanum, Planorhis exacutits, &c. A sleugh is a marshy spot or
pool on the surface of the prairie, often occupying the bottom of
a coulee or old watercourse. "The Swamp," more than once
referred to, is a large extent of almost impassable virgin swamp,

J.C., iv., July, 1885.

LAND AND KRKSWWATER MOI.LUSCA OF MANITOBA. 343

covering several square miles in area, and lying among the sand-
hills about eight miles south of f larberry. In most places it is
covered with a dense growth of spruces and tamaracs, under the
shade of which the Indian Pitcher plant (Sarr,ueiiia purpurea)
often covers acres of the sodden, mossy ground, which quakes as
one walks over its treacherous surface. The giant I,ady's
Slipper (Cypripedium purpureum), s veral of the Sundews
(Drosem), and many other interesting plants inhabit the same
locality. There are, in Manitoba, several Pine Creeks, but the
one so often referred to is a rather smrill river which flows through
the heart of the great swamp just referred to, winding its w.iy
dreamily to the Assiniboine through many muddy channels,
clogged by the leaves of the water-lily, and fringed with a thick
growth of willows and bulrushes. I never felt so utterly beyond
the range of civilization as when a friend and myself found
ourselves (in the course of our travels; miles from any other
human beings, on the edge of this lonely, but beautiful, stream,
across which we found it necessary to swim, carrying all our
effects. Looking down from the shaking bank into the clear,
dark water (which I afterwards learned, from personal experience,
was highly poisonous), I could see many little collections of dead
shells lying at the bottom. Placing a stick in the spout of our
camp-kettle, I made a dive, and a single scoop with this primitive
dredge brought up more than a dozen different species. That
some, at least, of the rivers abound with shells, is shown by the
fact that several in the North-west Territories have received the
distinctive name of " Shell River." I have seen the bed and
sides of the principal of these, which runs into the Assiniboine
from the east about fifty miles above its jun- tion with the
Qu'appelle, strewn with hundreds of dead shells belonging to
m.iny different species of Unionidre ; but, as I h.,i no means of
bringing any av'ay, they are not again referred to herein.

■■«

■■!■

344 T.AND ANn FRESHWATKR MOLLUSCA OF MANITOBA.

Unio rectus Lam.— Red River at Winnipeg. Do. (Bell).
U. radiata I^m. — Nuinerous in Lake Winnipeg;; and the

Nelson River (Bell).
U. luteolus Lam. {=Hyridella luteola Lam =£7 siliquoides

Barnes). — Common in the Red River at Winnipeg, and in

the Assiniboinc at Brandon. Red River (Bell).
U. rubiginosus Lea {— Lampsilis flavus Rafmesque).—

Junction of Souris and Assiniboine. Red River (Bell).
U. plicatus Le Sueur.— Red River at Winnipeg. (Do. Beil).

U. asperimus Lea.
U. undulatus Barnes.

U. ?

U. ?

at Brandon.

Do.
Do.
Da
Do.

do.
do.
do.
do.

Ap~ liboine

U.

u.
u.

? Assiniboine at Brandon.

? Do. do.

? P.ed River at Winnipeg.

U. lachrymosus Lea {=Theliderma quadndus Raf.).— Red

River, Manitoba (Bell).
U. multiplicatus Lea.— Red River. Common (Wm Brodie,

Esq., of Toronto).
U. boreal is Gray.— Near the Lake of the Woods (W. Brodie,

Esq.).
Metaptera alatus Say. Do. do.

Complanaria complanata Barnes. — " Common in the

Nelson River, but larger in the Red and Assiboine

Rivers" (Bell).
Strophitus ponnsylvanicus Lam. {=Anodonta tindulata

Say). — Lake Winnipeg, Great Play Green Lake (Bell).
Anodonta ? sp. — Red River at Winnipeg (Bell).
Pisldium varlabile Prime.— Common in Pine Creek.
Sphaerium sulcatum Lam.— Stony Creek, near Fort Pelly,

a tributary of the Assiniboine ; Pine Creek. Probably

common in creeks.
S. rhomboideum Say. — Common in Pine Creek.

u

J.C, iv.. April, 1886.

¥.

I.AMD AND FRi:SHW\TER MOLLURCA OF MANITOBA. 345

S. Striatinum Say —Several from Pine Creek. Ponds at Vork
Factory ; also in abundance in the stomach of a sturgeon
cnught in the Great Play Green Lake (Rell).

S. transversum Say.— Numbeis in the stomach of the same
sturgeon. (Bell).

S. jayanum ? Prime.— Abundant among roots of rushes on
wetter parts of the shell-covered prairie south of Fort Ellice,
but not observed elsewhere.

S. solidulum Prime. --Pleached and sem' 'ossil specimens were
abundant in the denuded banks of the Red River at
Winnipeg and the Assiniboine at Brandon.

Vitrina Ifmpida Gould.— Among moss beside a sleugh near
Carberry, but mt seen elsewhere. Near R^ .1 River; the
Lake of the Words (Dawson). In damp Woods at No^^v'ay
House (Bell).

Hyalina arborea Sry.— Moist spot beside sleugh near
Carberry ; under chips and pieces of wood in the Swamp.
Round Lake of the Woods (Dawson).

H. V I rid u la Menke {=Zomtes radiatulns Aid.).— Dry pond-
hole on prairie near Brandon ; common among roots of
grass beside sleugh near Carberry. Lake of the Woods ;
Pembina Mountain (Dawson).

H. indentata Say. — One specimen of the variety with open
umbilicus from Pine Creek.

H. fulva Drap. — Pretty common in moist spots beside sleughs
near Carberry ; also in the Swamp ; Pine Creek. Lake of
the Woods ; Pembina Mountain (Dawson).

Helix striatella Anth.— Beneath chips and pieces of wood and
among moss in the Swamp. Turtle Mountain ; Lake of the
Woods (Dawson). " In Woods round the Lakes of the
Winnipeg Basin" (Bell).

H, labyrinthica Say. — Edge of sleugh near Carberry ; and in

the Swamp.
H. pulchella Miill. — Pem.bina Mountain (Dawson).

346 LAND AND FRESHWATER MOLT.USCA OF MANITOBA.

Cionella sub-cylindrica Linn. {-=CochIicopa luhrka Miill.)—
Among moss and grass-roots in moist spots beside sleughs
near Carberry, but not common. Turtle Mountain ; l,ake
of the Woods (Dawson).

Pupa contracta Say. — One specimen (the only representative
of the genus seen) from among grass-roots beside a sleugh
near Carberry.

Succlnea haydeni Binney.— Pembina Mountain (Dawson).

S. ovalis Gould. —Lake .it Kigh-bluff ; quite common on wet
moss and weeds beside lakes and sleughs near Carberry and
Brandon. Lake of the Woods (Dawson). " From Norway
House to York Factory ; very numerous at the latter place
? T.ong grass on damp ground which is occasionally covered
with fresh-water at high tide" (Bell).

S. avara Say.— Edge of alake at High-bluft ; many bleached
specimens were strewn over the dry alkaline surface of a
large shallow pond-hole at Two Creeks, about twenty miles
north of Virden. Lake of the Woods (Dawson).

S. obliqua Say.— Lake of the Woods; Dufferin (Dawson).

S. hawkinsif Baird (=o. elegans Risso.)— Fairly common on
edges of lakes round Carberry, Birtle, &c.

Carychium exiguum Say.— Edge of sleughs near Carberry ;
Pine Creek ; dry pond-hole near Brandon. Apparently well
distributed.

Limnsea stagnalis Linn.— Very common, though it does not
appear in all lakes. The specimens are sometimes very fine,
and, as a rule, all those in any one lake appear to be of
about the same size. J have fine specimens from lakes near
Birtle, Rapid City, and Carberry ; also smaller ones from
Cook's Lake, near Shoal Lake, he. '• In nearly all the lakes,
streams, and marshes from Manitoba to York Factory "
(Bell).

L. megasoma Say.—" This fine species was found living in
considerable numbers in the Echimamish River, between
the Nelson and the Height of Land. Its discovery at this

J.C, iv., July, 1885.

LAND AND FRESHWATER MOLLUSCA OF MANITOBA. 347

place is interesting on account of its great distance to the
Northward of previously-known localities for the species."
(Bell).

L. palustris Miill. (=Z. elodes Say).— This is by far the com-
monest shell in Manitoba. It is abundant in nearly all
lakes, ponds, and sleughs all over Manitoba wherever I
have been. It is exceedingly variable and possibly in-
cludes several allied species, but neither Mr. Taylor nor
myself are able to distinguish them. I obtained a semi-
scalariform monstrosity from a lake near Carberry.
" Numerous and fine in ponds at Yorh Factory ; also
abundant in ponds along the Red River in Manitoba."
(Bell).

L. elodes Say. — Lake of the Woods; Dufferin; Pembina, and
Turtle Mountains (Dawson).

L. elodes var. urr.brosa.— Sleugh near Beaver Creek.

L. elodes var. ? — A very small form, not exceeding

three-eighths of an inch in length. Abundant in a dry
sleugh near Brandon.

L. desidosa ? Say. — Dry pond-hole near Brandon.

L. catascopium Say. — Dufferin (Dawson). Great Play Green
Lake ; common in different parts of Oxford Lake (Bell).

L. caperata Say. — Pine Creek ; Lake near Rapid City
Pembina Mountain (Dawson).

L. cygruata Say. — Dufferin (Dawson).

L. decollata Migel. — Lake of the Woods (Dawson).

L. humilis Say. — Dry pond-hole near Brandon. Pembina
Mountain (Dawson).

Physa ancillaria Say. — Lake of the Woods (Dawson).

P. hetet'ostropha Say. — Appears to be widely distributed, but
is not common. I got fine specimens from Two Creeks and
from a lake at High-bluff, while smaller ones came from
lakes near Brandon, Birtle, Rapid City, and Carberry, Lake
of the Woods (Dawson).

348 LAND AND FRESHWATER MOLLUSCA OF MANITOBA.

P. gyrina ? Say.—" Small specimens of a Physa resembling the
P. elliptica of Lea \~P. gyrina Say ?], but possibly distinct
herefrom, were found in ponds at York Factory " (Bell).

Bulinus hypnorum Linn.— A very common shell in lakes
and sleughs. Carberry, Brandon, Fort Ellice, Birtle, &c.,
&c. Pembina Mountain, &c. (Dawson). " This species
occurs in ponds all the way from Manitoba to York
Factory " (Bell).

Planorbis trivolvis Say.— A fairly abundant and well dis-
tributed species. I found it in most lakes, but not in all,
throughout the country. Lake of the Woods ; Dufferin, &c.
(Dawson). "Some very large specimens of this were
collected in the Echimamish River on the west side of the
Height of Land. Although common in ponds, rivers, and
marshes to the south and west, it was not observed to the
northward of this locality " (Bell).
P. bicarinatus Say.— "A peculiar variety of this species

occurs in Lake Manitoba " ; Lake Winnipeg (Bell).
P. complanatus Say.— " Abundant in Lake Winnipeg and in

the Red and Nelson Rivers " (Bell).
P. corpulentus Say.— Lake of the Woods (Dawson).
P. exacutus Say.— Common in many of the lakes and ponds
between Birtle and Rapid City, but not in all ; ponds near
Beaver Creek ; Pine Creek. Not seen near Carberry or
Brandon.
P. parvus Say.— Exactly the same as the last species. •
P. umbilicatus Taylor, n. sp.— Found in ponds betweeu

Rapid City and Birtle ; also near Brandon.
Segrnentina armigera Say.- A few from Pine Creek;
common in some lakes and sleughs near Birtle, Fort Ellice,
Two Creeks, &c., but not in all; abundant in a lake at
High-bluff; not seen near Carberry or Brandon. Several
localities in Manitoba (Dawson). " In ponds between
Forts Ellice and Pelly ; abundant in Great Playgreen
Lake "(Bell).

J.C. iv., July, 1885.

JOURNAL OF CONCHOLOGV.

349

Ancylus parallelus Haldeman. -Pine Creek, one specimen.
Rainy River ; Lake of the Woods (Dawson).

A. singularis ?— Souris River (Dawson).

Valvata tricarinata Say.— Small, depressed form. Pine
Creek, common. P\)und in the stomach of a sturgeon
caught in the Greai Play Green Lake (Bell).

V. sincera Say. — Several bleached specimens from Pine
Creek.

Amnicola pallida? Hald.— Bleached specimens were com-
mon in the denuded banks of the Red River at Winnipeg,
and of the Assiniboine at Brandon.

A. granum Say. — Pine Creek.

I

JOURNAL OF COWCHOLOGV.

351

DESCRIPTION OF A
NEW SPECIES OF Pf-ANORBIS FROxM MANITOBA.

(^

By JOHN W. TAYLOR.
X 2

Planorbis umbilicatus.

Mr. R. M. Christy, who has paid several visits to Manitoba,
kindly placed his collections in my hands for examination.
Amongst the Planorbes from Brandon, Birtle, &c., there was a
form which I could not with propriety refer to any described
species, 1 therefore propose to name it as above. Mr. Nelson,
who has studied the Limiijeidfe, agrees with me in regarding
the specimens as distinct from any previously described
species.

Shell somewhat flat above, but slightly sunk in the centre,
convex below, greyi-,h-white, somewhat glossy, closely and dis-
tinctly striate in the line of growth, with stronger ridges at
intervals, most visible on the under side. Periphery rounded,
but slightly compressed at each side. Suture rather deep.
Aperture oblique and somewhat cordiform. Umbilicus deep
and narrowly funnel-shaped. Whorls 41-^, compact, gradually
increasing in size and faintly keeled or angulated on upper
side. Diam. 6i/^ mill., alt. 2 mill.

The species bears some resemblance to P. pari'us Say,
but its somewhat funnel-shaped umbilicus is sufficient to at once
separate it.