YG eb» ~ LAND AND FRESHWATER SHELLS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 5 re O Y) 2 Ww a Ps aa} Bee 4 VW) Z O O ae [ feeds the young ravens when they cry,” and “ whose tender mercies are over all His works.” Nor are the grander works of creation alone worthy of our consideration: the contemplation of the vast firmament ablaze with untold myriads of glistening orbs, or of the mighty deep now slumbering with un- ruffled surface, now hurling its maddened billows against the rock-bound coast, may well, indeed, entrance and awe the soul; but humbler things than these demand of us more than a mere passing thought : the tiny moss that creeps upon the wall, the spider’s web, insects innumerable, of every form and hue, that flit on gladsome wing, as well as countless millions of creatures far too small for unaided human vision to XV1 INTRODUCTION. descry—these too, in language “silent, but more eloquent than words,’ proclaim the astounding majesty and never ceasing beneficence of the Great Creator. We are too often apt to look down contemptuously, if not with feelings of disgust, upon some of the objects by which we are surrounded, forgetful of the fact that nothing which the Almighty has seen fit to create can possibly be unworthy of our admiration, and that ‘* Each shell, each crawling insect holds a rank Important in the plan of Him who framed This scale of beings; holds a rank, which lost Would break the chain and leave behind a gap Which Nature’s self would rue.” It is impossible to acquire an accurate knowledge of any subject unless our investigations are conducted in an orderly manner, and after some settled plan ; naturalists have therefore divided the products of our Earth according to their structure, and arranged them systematically in groups. The Animal Kingdom is divided into Sub-kingdoms, Classes, Orders, Families, Genera, and Species. Mollusca—The creatures which form the subject of the following pages belong to a Sub-kingdom, to which the name of JJollusca has been given. The Mollusca,* or Molluscs (as they are usually called), are invertebrate animals, that is, they are unprovided with a vertebral column or back-bone ; their bodies are soft and fleshy, and, except in the case of the Cephalo- pods (of which the cuttle-fish is an example), entirely destitute of a skeleton, bones, or joints of any kind, * From mollis (Latin), so‘t. INTRODUCTION. XV1i and are enveloped in a muscular covering called the mantle. Their zervous system is broken up into several pieces, which are disposed in various parts of the body and connected together by stout nerve-cords. Most molluscs are provided with a shell which is formed by a secretion of the mantle, composed chiefly of carbonate of lime with an admixture of more or less animal matter. The Mollusca are divided into Acephalous (headless) and Cephalic (having a head). The shells of the former are Livalve, those of the latter Unzvalve. Acephala.—All the Acephala are aquatic; some of them inhabit fresh water, but by far the greater number are marine, and of these, the oyster and cockle will serve as examples. They have no distinct head; the mouth is seated within the folds of the mantle, and consists of a slit or opening with two flattened lips. The mantle which envelops the body consists of two parts or Jodes united at the back. Gwyn Jeffreys admirably describes it as like “the cover of a book':” ‘it is attached ‘to ‘the inner margin of each valve of the shell by a series of muscles ; in some cases it is open on all sides (except the back) ; in others it is more or less closed in front, but there is always an opening sufficiently large to admit of the passage of the foot, which is tongue- shaped, flexible, and often capable of being consider- ably extended beyond the shell. But in the case of the Brachiopoda (a very remarkable class of marine headless molluscs) the animals have no foot, they are sessile, being attached to stones, seaweeds, or other objects, either by a foot-stalk or the outer surface of b XVili INTRODUCTION. the lower valve of the shell. Each lobe of the mantle is provided with a spirally coiled arm, which is furnished with filaments (czrrz). The respiratory organs of the Acephala are gills of a leaf-like form, and consist of a network of blood-vessels ; a continuous stream of water traverses the gills, and a fresh supply of oxygen is thus imparted to the blood. Many of these molluscs are furnished with eye-like protuberances (ocel/z) on the mantle, which vary, according to the species, in number, arrangement, and colour. The mantle of the clam (Pecten maximus) is fringed with ocelli of a greenish-blue or purplish colour; they are arranged in two rows, those in the front row being larger than the others. The organ of hearing in the headless molluscs consists of a sac containing small stone-like bodies called ofolttes. With regard to the reproductive system of the Acephala, it has been generally believed that the sexes are in all cases united, and that each individual is capable of fertilizing itself; recent investigations, however, lead to the conclusion that in some instances each animal is either male or female only. Some kinds are oviparous, and others ovoviviparous. Cephalic Molluscs.—Cephalic Molluscs are of a higher organism than the Acephala; their nervous system is more fully developed; they have a distinct head, and usually, tentacles or feelers, on the tips, or some- times at the base of which the eyes are placed; in some cases, however, the animals are eyeless. Their organs of hearing, like those of the Acephala, consist of stone-like bodies or otolites, which are contained INTRODUCTION. xix in a sac or capsule, and vary both in form and number. In ‘British Conchology,’ Introduction, p. 28, it is stated that Frey “counted as many as two hundred otolites of different sizes in one of the audi- tory vessels (of which there were two) in an adult snail,” The mantle consists of a single flexible lobe which covers the front part of the body and usually forms a sort of collar round the head. The foot consists of a muscular disc adapted for crawling or sometimes for floating. The reproductive system of the Cephalic molluscs is very remarkable: in some cases the sexes are distinct, each animal being either male or female only ; in others the sexes are united in the same individual which, though capable of per- forming the functions of both, is unable to fertilize itself. In a few instances the animal which at its birth is either male or female only, on arriving at maturity finds itself to be both. A great number of Cephalic molluscs are marine, others inhabit fresh water, many live entirely on land, and some are amphibious ; this being the case, their respiratory organs are,as might be expected, variously constructed, according to their requirements. All the British Cephalic molluscs which inhabit land or fresh water belong to the Gasteropoda, and are comprised in two of the many orders into which that class has been divided, viz. Pectinibranchiata and Pulmono- branchiata. The respiratory apparatus of the animals belonging to the first of these orders consists of comb-like gills which have a single, or more rarely, a double plume, Be2 XxX INTRODUCTION. and are situated on the upper part of the head or on either side of it, and covered by the mantle. The Pectinibranchs treated of in this volume, inhabit fresh water only, with the exception of JVeritina, which occurs sometimes also in brackish or even salt water. The organs of breathing in molluscs which belong to the second order (Pulmonobranchiata) consist chiefly of a network of vessels seated within a sac formed by a fold of the mantle, and are adapted for the respira- tion of atmospheric air. The greater number of the British Palmonobranchs live on the land (very few are marine), but some inhabit fresh water, in which case they are provided with additional branchial organs which enable them to extract air from the water; but as they require atmospheric air also, they frequently rise to the surface to inhale it, or sometimes leave the water altogether for a time. Faw and Lingual Ribbon.—it has already been stated that all the British land and fresh-water mol- luscs which are provided with a head belong to the Gasteropoda. The mouths of Gasteropodous molluscs are furnished with arched jaws of a horny substance, and frequently with a tongue-like organ armed with teeth, which is called the Aingual ribbon. The jaw varies in form; in some cases it is more strongly arched than in others; sometimes it is coarsely ribbed and hasa notched margin, and in other instances it is smooth and more or less promi- nently beaked in front. The lingual ribbon is also very variable, in different INTRODUCTION. XX1 genera and species, as to the arrangement, number, and form of the teeth with which it is armed. This curious and very interesting organ consists of a mus- cular tongue furnished with plates upon which the teeth are arranged in transverse and longitudinal rows. The plates are divided into three areas; the central one is termed the vachzs, and the two lateral or side areas are called the pleure; the teeth on the former are called median (central), or rachidian, those on the latter wcznz. The number and arrangement of the teeth may be illustrated by numeral figures ; the following formula, which represents the system in the lingual ribbon of Helix aspersa, will serve as an example—52.1. 52. The figures denote that each transverse row contains one central or vachidian tooth, with fifty-two uzcznz or lateral teeth on each side of it; and as there are, in this instance, one hundred and thirty-five rows, the complete formula stands thus :— Go. E. 5S 135 The lingual ribbon of molluscs is well worthy of investigation, for, apart from its affording characters which are useful in determining the position which some genera and species should occupy, it forms a most beautiful and interesting object for observation under the microscope. Being unable to use that in- strument for any length of time without inconvenience or even risk to my eyesight, I have unfortunately been prevented from examining, except in a very cursory = 14,175 teeth: XX11 INTRODUCTION. manner, the lingual apparatus of our land and fresh- water Gasteropods, and have therefore, in a few in- stances, given the form of the jaw and number of teeth as described in Tate’s ‘ British Mollusks,’ The jaw and lingual ribbon of the larger species may be easily extracted with a pair of finely pointed scissors, the animal having been previously killed in boiling water; they should then be immersed in a solution of caustic potash until all fleshy matter has been removed, and afterwards thoroughly washed in several changes of water. In the case of the smaller species it is necessary, after killing the animal, to remove the head and place it in a test tube with caustic potash. After a few days the solution will have become turbid, and should be carefully poured off ; this is best effected by filtering it through blotting- paper, which, when all the liquid has run through, must be examined to make sure that the jaw and lingual ribbon have not escaped from the tube, into which a fresh supply of potash solution must be poured ; this process is to be repeated from time to time until all fleshy matter is removed. A much quicker and less tedious mode of procedure is to boil the solution by placing the test tube over a spirit lamp, but in this case great caution is neces- sary, as the potash is very apt to boil over and — destroy almost everything with which it may come in contact. Shells—It has already been stated that the shells of molluscous animals are formed by a secretion of the mantle, and that their composition consists chiefly of carbonate of lime, with a small proportion of animal INTRODUCTION. XXili matter ; in all cases their form resembles more or less that of a cone. According to Dr. Gray, “the shells of Mollusca appear to be coeval with the first formation of the animal; they may be observed covering the embryo on its first development in the egg, even before it has acquired its proper shape or any of its internal organs,” * This first formed portion of the shell is called the nucleus ; it constitutes the apex of all shells whether bivalve or univalve, and usually remains attached to them during all the stages of their growth. After the animal has emerged from the egg, it gradually enlarges its shell as its body increases in size, by adding, from time to time, fresh deposits formed by the secretion of the mantle; the place where each successive deposit has been attached to the preceding one is indicated by a line which is called the line of growth. In most cases the shell consists of two layers or coats: the outer one is membranaceous or horny, and is called the efzdermis ; the inner one is calcareous, and constitutes the shelly part. The structure of univalve shells is more uniform than that of bivalves, and usually contains less animal matter. In ‘British Conchology,’ vol. iii. p. 202, Gwyn Jeffreys says, “A univalve shell consists of three layers of cellular plates, each of the upper two layers lying unconformably on the one immediately below it, and every plate being composed of a single series of elongated prismatic cells which cohere length- wise.” And in the Introduction (p. 47) to the same * ¢Philosophical Transactions’ for 1833. XXIV INTRODUCTION. work, he makes the following remarks respecting the srowth of shells: “Owing to the difficulty which exists in keeping and observing molluscs in a state of con- finement for any length of time, and especially those which live-in the open sea, very little is known as to the mode and rate of their increase. Some interesting experiments on the growth of land-shells were, how- ever, made by Mr. E. J. Lowe, and communicated to the Royal Society in 1854. The result of his observa- tions is as follows:—1Ist. The shells of Heliczde in- crease but little for a considerable period, never arriving at maturity before the animal has once be- come dormant (or hibernated). 2nd. Shells do not grow whilst the animal remains dormant. 3rd. The growth of shells is very rapid when it does take place. 4th. Most species bury themselves in the ground to increase the dimensions of their shells. ela pomatia and many other shells retreat for that purpose in summer, having their heads and the mouths of their shells downwards (this position being reversed during hibernation); H. rotundata burrows into decayed wood for the same purpose ; while Pupa umbilicata, Clausilia nigricans (C. rugosa), and Bulimus obscurus bury their heads only while the increase takes place.” The colouring matter which imparts so many beautiful and varied tints to the surface of shells, is secreted by glands in the mantle, which are specially designed for the purpose. When the secretion happens to be defective or wanting, the shell is more or less deficient in colour, and is called a white variety. Operculum.—The aperture of many univalve shells INTRODUCTION. XXV is closed by a lid called the operculum. It consists of a plate composed in most cases of horny, but some- times of calcareous matter, and it is attached to the foot of the animal by a strong muscle. It is usually spiral, but in a few instances it is concentric. The following woodcuts are intended to show the position of those parts of bivalve and univalve shells to which frequent allusion will be made in the descrip- tions given of the several species. ' In order to ascertain which is the right and which the left valve of a bivalve shell, we have only to hold it in the position it would occupy if the animal were crawling straight away from us, viz. with the anterior or front side furthest from, and the posterior or hinder side nearest to us, the beaks being uppermost; the valve on our right hand will be the right, that on our left the left valve. UMBO i LIGAMENT, : . JOIs YOlWAaLNy FIIS YMOlWALSOS LOWER MARGIN The first figure represents the left valve of Uxzo tumidus, and shows the position of the azferior and posterior sides, the lower margin, ligament, and umbo. In the second figure the interior of both valves is XXV1 INTRODUCTION. seen; the marks a@ indicate the position of the muscular scars or impressions made on the shell by the attachment of the adductor muscles which serve to LEFT VALVE RIGHT VALVE draw the valves together. The number of the muscles is not in all cases the same: Conchifera or Bivalves have therefore been divided into two groups, named respectively MWonomyaria and Dimyaria, In the former and smaller group the animals have only one adductor muscle, which is placed in, or near, the centre of the body. In the latter and much larger group there are two distinct adductor muscles on the right and left sides of the body. In addition to the impressions made in the interior of the valves by these muscles, there is a groove called the pallial scar, which is caused by the muscular attachment of the mantle to the shell; it is not shown in the woodcut, but if a specimen of Unzo tumidus be examined, it will be seen that it extends from one INTRODUCTION. XXVil adductor scar to the other, following, at a short distance from the edge, the curve of the lower margin. The exact position of the wmbones is more clearly indicated in the second figure than it is in the first, by the small white patch seen on the apex of each valve. The figure also shows the hinge and teeth, which in the Unzontde are lateral only; they are described in the body of the work (see pp. II-12). Cardinal teeth are those placed close to the um- bones (see Spherium corneum, p. 3). PILLAR ae OF ----fOUTER Lip PERIPHERY * OPERCULUM UMB/LICUS The above three figures show the several parts of a univalve shell. XXVIll INTRODUCTION. Collecting. —The requisites for collecting our land and fresh-water shells are as simple in construction as they are few in number. A net of coarse canvas, or better still, a scoop made of copper-wire gauze, and having a zinc rim fitted with a socket by which it can be attached to a pole or a walking-stick; a plentiful supply of pill-boxes of various sizes ; a wide-mouthed bottle or two, with tightly fitting corks ; and a pocket lens for examining minute species, will complete the collector’s kit. Aquatic species may be taken by sweeping with the net or scoop among the water- plants which float on the surface or grow on the sides of ponds, rivers, and ditches. Those which bury themselves in the mud can be obtained by scraping along the bottom with the scoop, which should then be moved to and fro on the surface of the water till the mud has escaped through the gauze, leaving the shells behind. Very little need be said here respecting the hunting- ground of the Conchologist, as the habitat or place of abode of each species will be given when the animal and shell have been described. I can give no better advice to the young collector than bid him search everywhere, and, literally, “leave no stone unturned.” Dry gravelly soils, pine woods, and bogs, are, how- ever, as a rule, to be avoided, though in them, even, some species may be found. The best time to look for land snails is during, or immediately after, rainy weather. It is not necessary that the Conchologist, when on a collecting excursion, should waste his time in attempting to name the specimens he finds ; this can be better and more conveniently done at home; INTRODUCTION. XXix but, too much stress cannot be laid upon the import- ance—the absolute necessity, in fact—of carefully recording the locality where each species is found ; this should be done ox the spot, and not left to memory, in /egble writing on the lid of the boxes, or on a label placed with the specimens, and it is advis- able to add the date. On his return home the collector should kill the animals as speedily as possible, and not keep them huddled together, alive, in close boxes for one moment longer than he can help; this, the only unpleasant part of the Conchologist’s task, is usually effected by plunging them into boiling water, and he should take care that it zs bozling, so that the poor creatures may be instantly deprived of life. The animals, when dead, may easily be removed from bivalve shells by inserting a thin knife between the valves and cutting the adductor muscles; those of univalves, by means of a pin used after the manner so adroitly practised by the vendors of whelks and “winkles.” It fre- quently happens that the most painstaking efforts to remove the whole of the animal, especially in the case of the smaller species, prove ineffectual, a portion of it being left behind, to the disfigurement of the shell (if it be transparent), near the apex ; sometimes the fragment may be removed with a bent pin, but in most cases it cannot be reached, and as it is worth while to take a little trouble to extract it from a valuable specimen, the following method may be tried, and will usually prove successful. A teacup or wine- glass is filled with damp sand, into which the shell is plunged (apex downwards) till it is firmly imbedded, XXX INTRODUCTION. the aperture being left exposed; a glass syringe, with a fine point, is now filled with a solution of caustic potash and a small quantity of the liquid squirted very gently into the interior, care being taken xot to fill the shell or allow any of the solution to come in contact with the epidermis; the cup is then to be carefully placed in an upright position, in some place where it will not be disturbed, and left for a few days, when the shell may be rendered thoroughly clean by injecting either cold or warm water into the interior with the syringe. The operculum should, in all cases where it exists, be removed from the foot of the animal and placed in its proper position in the aper- ture of the shell, a little cotton wool having been previously put there to prevent it slipping into the interior; a touch of gum on its inner surface and edges will keep it from falling outwards. Arrangement of Collection.—A series of drawers enclosed in a cabinet with folding doors is certainly the most suitable receptacle for a collection of shells ; but as cabinets are more or less costly, those who cannot afford to purchase one, may, for a trifling sum, procure boxes which will answer the purpose. There are several ways of mounting shells ; some collectors attach them with gum to strips of cardboard, or to pieces of thick glass cut into different lengths. In the latter case, the under side of the glass shouid be covered with paper of a tint which will form a suitable background—a shade of stone-colour, perhaps, shows the shells to the best advantage ; the paper should be attached to the glass, with gum, at one end only, so that it can be folded or opened backwards, like the INTRODUCTION. XXx1 leaf of a book, in order that both sides of the shell may be seen. Sometimes collections are placed on cotton wool in a series of cardboard trays. Perhaps the most satisfactory method is to affix the shells to cedar or mahogany tablets (covered with stone- coloured paper), + of an inch in thickness and 33 inches in width; in the first instance the tablets should be cut into lengths to fit the drawers or boxes, and afterwards sawn across into various sizes to suit the specimens. It is advisable, when space will admit of it, to havea series of examples ; at all events there should, if possible, never be less than two specimens of each species, one of them being fixed to the tablet with the mouth upwards and the other the contrary way. I advise the reader, in arranging his collection, to follow the method and nomenclature adopted in this volume ; it is that of Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys, our highest authority upon British Conchology. Lists, printed on one side only, of all the species and varieties of the British land and fresh-water shells, can be obtained at a trifling cost; those published by Messrs. Taylor Brothers, at the office of the ‘ Journal of Conchology,’ 9, Wade Street, Leeds, will answer the purpose ; they are sent post free at the rate of 1}d. each, or od. per dozen. The name of each species and variety should be firmly fastened with gum (at the end of the series) to the lower edge of the tablet, on the left, and the Jocality, neatly written on a strip of cardboard or paper, on the right. It is advisable to mount minute shells, especially those which are of a white or pale colour, upon a neatly cut strip of black paper which is. to be attached, in its proper place, to the tablet. XXXI11 INTRODUCTION. In conclusion, I would once more urge upon my readers the duty incumbent upon them of never need- lessly depriving any animal of its life, or inflicting upon it unnecessary pain. If it be true that to man it has been given to have “ dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth,” it is also true that the gift entails upon him a very grave responsibility, and he who wittingly and ruthlessly inflicts torture upon any creature, however humble it may be, is thereby degraded to a level lower than that of the victim of his tyranny. The moral stamped on every page of Nature’s book, if rightly read, will teach humility of mind and tender- ness of heart; and though ,as Cowper wrote— ‘** An inadvertent step may crush the snail That crawls at evening in the public path ; Yet he that has humanity, forewarned, Will tread aside, and let the reptile live. For they are all, the meanest things that are, As free to live and to enjoy that life, As God was free to form them at the first, Who in His sovereign wisdom made them all.” THE LAND AND FRESHWATER SHELLS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. AQUATIC. CLASS I.—CONCHIFERA, OR BIVALVES.* Body oval, sides usually compressed ; there is no distinct head ; the mouth is situated within the folds of the mantle ; man¢le with two lobes ; in some species it is open, and its edges are then usually fringed, in others it is furnished with tubes, or szphous, in which case the latter are frequently fringed with thread-like filaments or feelers ; foot tongue-shaped, often capable of great extension ; in some species it is provided with a tuft of threads, called the 4yssus, by which the animal attaches itself to stones or other bodies ; both sexes are united in the same individual, which has the power of fertilizing itself. The whole or greater part of the body is enclosed in a shell composed of two pieces or valves, which are united by a ligament or hinge along their dorsal margin. espivatory organs consisting of gills. ORDER LAMELLIBRANCHIATA. Gills four, leaf-shaped, two on each side of the body. All the British freshwater bivalves belong to ‘this order, and are divided into three families, viz. :— I, SPHARIIDA. II. UNIONIDA:. III. DREISSENIDA. * Having two valves. ¢ With leaf-like gills. B tu SPHARIIDZ. FAMILY I.—SPHZERIIDZA. Body somewhat globular ; szanztle produced (lengthened) in front into either one or two szf/hons or tubes, which the animal has the power of extending or contracting. In those species which are furnished with two siphons, the longer one serves for breathing and nutrition, the other for excretion; the edges of the mantle and tubes are simple, that is, they are not provided with filaments ; foot wedge-shaped, exceedingly extensile. Shell with two valves, which are of equal size, but more or less inequilateral, and of an oval or subtriangular form ; Azzge furnished with cardinal and lateral teeth ; /¢gament placed at the posterior (hinder) side of the hinge, external, but sometimes nearly hidden. The Spheriude differ from most of the Conchifera in having their siphons placed in front instead of at the posterior end. They are active in their habits and frequently float on the under surface of the water with their foot spread out upon it, the shell at the same time being inverted ; in addition to this, many if not all of the species have the power of spinning gela- tinous threads by means of which they raise and lower themselves, or remain suspended in the water. They feed on animalcula, and in winter bury them- selves in the mud, where they remain in a torpid state until the return of spring. They are ovoviviparous, that is, the eggs are hatched and the living fry retained for a time within the body of the parent before they are born. GENUS I—SPHA'RIUM,* SCOPOLL. Body, sides nearly equal ; #zaz¢le with two siphons (or tubes), which are placed in front. Shell nearly equilateral ; deaks almost central. * A sphere or globe. SPHARIUM. 3 1. SPHARIUM COR'NEUM,* LINNE. PL. I. Body greyish, or occasionally of a reddish or brownish tint; foot rather longer than the shell, somewhat pointed, of a milky hue, slightly tinged with rose-colour towards the extremity ; mantle grey at the edges ; szfhons longish, truncate, of a pale grey faintly tinged with flesh-colour. Shell rather globular, compressed in front, thin, shining, of a pale horn-colour, marked in the line of growth with lighter- coloured bands, and often with brownish rays which proceed from the beaks towards the front margin; with very fine close- set striz in the line of growth, which are intersected by still finer lines ; epidermis thin; beaks nearly central; /égament short, almost invisible externally ; zzszde of a faint bluish tint ; Ainge thick, with a small double cardinal tooth in each valve, and two double lateral or side teeth in the right valve, and two prominent single teeth in the left valve ; muscular tmpressions (or scars) faint. Inhabits rivers, ponds, canals, &c., in every part of Great Britain. Var. 1. flavescens.—Shell of a pale straw-colour, smaller and more globular. Cumberland, Westmoreland, Grand Canal, Dublin, Aberdeenshire, in a lake near Lerwick, B.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), 7.C. Inverness-shire and Kirk- cudbrightshire (F. Buchanan White), S.4V. Near Colchester (Laver), Stapleton near Bristol, Hampstead, Watford, Hendon (Rich). Var. 2. nucleus. — Smaller and more globular. Crymlyn, bog near Swansea, Barton Run, Norfolk, Richmond, &.C. Stapleton near Bristol, Bath, Hampstead, Watford, Hendon (Rich). Var. 3. Scaldiana.—Shell more oval, and of a paler colour. Oxwich marsh near Swansea, Thames at Clifden, and in many places, B.C. Canal, Acock’s Green near Birmingham (G. S. Tye), 7.C. Stapleton near Bristol, Bath, Hampstead, Watford, Hendon (Rich). * Horn-coloured. 4 SPA ARIIDE. Var. 4. Pistdioides.—“ Shell subtriangular, and rather more produced at its posterior slope ; transverse (or concentric) striz coarser ; ligament slightly perceptible on the outside. Grand Junction Canal at Paddington. A form approaching this variety has been taken by Mr. Jordan near Bath, and by Mr. Nelson near Birmingham.”—Z.C. Regent’s Park, and Brentford, Essex (Rich). The Rev. J. M‘Murtrie informs me that “ this variety or one resembling it is abundant in the canal at Edinburgh, where the ordinary form does not occur. The ordinary form is the only one found in other pieces of water in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh.” 2. -S IV RCOEN, eA UEACH: ) PLA Body grey, tinged with yellow or brown; foot broad, some- what swollen towards the extremity, greyish-white ; mantle dark grey at the edges ; ez//s brownish or reddish-grey; szphons of nearly equal length, short, whitish. Shell oval, swollen, sides nearly equal, solid, glossy, yellowish- brown, occasionally with a greenish tinge, frequently encircled with bands of a darker colour ; with strong concentric ridges which are crossed by fine striz ; efzdermizs thick ; anterior side rounded ; posterior side somewhat produced and truncated ; beaks obtuse, central; /zgament short, conspicuous ; zzszde pearly ; Azzge and teeth as in S. corneum, but stronger ; scars distinct. Inhabits sluggish streams and canals in the home, midland, and some of the northern counties of England. In Ireland it has been found near Dublin, but it is a local species. It differs from S. corneum in being much larger and more solid, as well as in its oval form and strong ridges. Near Bath (Daniel), B.C, vol. v. p. 150. River Cherwell, Banbury, Oxon (D. Pidgeon), near Blue Bridge, York (Hey), FC. * Tnhabiting brooks. SPHARIUM, 5 3.°5.. OVALE Ferussac. Pt. I. “ Body milk-white ; ¢zdes long, united nearly all the way ; foot tongue-shaped, very extensile and flexible ; g7Z/s of a faint blush-colour.”—B.C,, vol. i. p. 8. Shell oblong, compressed, sides somewhat unequal, thin, semitransparent, but not very glossy, of an ashy-grey colour, sometimes marked with faint rays which extend towards the lower margin, finely striate concentrically ; epzdermis thin; anterior side roundish; fosterzor side truncate ; lower margin sharp, curved ; _deaks almost central, small; /égamen¢ long, narrow, visible outside ; zzszde greyish; Azuge straight on the posterior, incurved on the anterior side; ¢eeth as in S. corneum, but very small; scars indistinct. Inhabits ponds and canals, but it is a very local species. It has been found at Exmouth (Clark),.in the Paddington Canal (J. G. J.), canals and ponds in Lancashire, and near Wakefield, B.C. Canal, Acock’s Green, &c., near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), near Wakefield (J. Hebden), near Blue Bridge, York (Hey), #C. In ‘British Conchology’ it is stated that “a living specimen, which had been taken early in February, and kept in a vessel by itself, gave birth about three weeks afterwards to some young ones, at intervals of two.or three days. Immediately on being excluded they were very active, and used: their long foot as an organ of progression, by extending it to its full length; and, after attaching its point to the bottom of the vessel, like a leech, they drew up their shell to it, and by repeating this several times they contrived to travel along for some distance. They seemed to be fond of nestling under their mother for the sake of shelter or shade.” * Oval. 6 SEE TTI AsS. LACUS TRE,” MULLER ako. Body whitish, or of a faint rose-colour; foot about twice the length of the shell ; saz¢le greyish at the edges ; szjhons long, the vesfiratory one cylindrical and truncate at its orifice, which is large ; anal siphon slightly conical, orifice small. Shell roundish, equilateral, somewhat compressed, very thin, shining, semitransparent, pale greyish horn-colour, occasionally marked with bands of a darker colour, slightly striate concentri- cally ; epidermis thin ; anterior and fosterior sides truncate and sloping from the upper side ; front margin sharp and somewhat curved; deaks central, very prominent, tipped with the nucleus or first growth of the shell ; /¢gament¢ narrow, faintly visible out- side ; zzside bluish-white ; Azzge strong, teeth as in S. corneum, but smaller in proportion ; scars indistinct. Inhabits canals, lakes, and ponds in most parts of England, Wales, and Ireland; in Scotland it has been found near Glasgow. Gwyn Jeffreys says he has “found it alive in the hardened mud of a pond which had been drained, and its bed so completely dried up by the sun as scarcely to show the marks of any footsteps on it.”—B.C., WoL, 4. p11. | This species may be distinguished from the other members of the genus by the rounder form and extreme slenderness of its shell, as well as by the presence of the nucleus on the beaks. Var. 1. Brochoniana.—Shell much larger and flatter; deaks smaller and less prominent. Clumber Lake, Notts, &.C. Near Hornsey (Rich). Var. 2. rotunda.—Sheli rounder and flatter ; epidermis yel- lowish-green. Singleton, near Swansea, B.C. Var. 3. Ryckholtiz.—Shell small, triangular and globular ; beaks very prominent. Marsh between Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton, B.C. * Living in lakes. PISIDIUM. “NI GENUS IIT,—PISIDIUM}? C. PFEIFFER. _ Body, sides unequal ; #azztle with only one szphon. Shell, sides unequal ; deaks near the anzzerzor end. The members of this genus differ from those of the preceding one (Spherium), in having only one siphon, and in their shells being less equilateral and very much smaller; in other respects, however, they re- semble them, their habits and homes being almost identical ; they possess, too, in common with them the power of creeping in an inverted position on the under surface of the water. They occur in vast numbers in rivers, lakes, ponds, and stagnant water, and are a favourite food of fish and ducks. The shell is very often thickly coated with a deposit from the water in which they live. Five species only, of this genus, are as yet known to occur in Great Britain, and as they are not very easily identified, I cannot do better than follow the lead-of the gifted author of ‘ British Conchology,’ and * divide them according to their shape, as follows :— A. Triangular. 1%, Po amnicum.” 2, 2. fontinale. “3B, Over)’ 3; FP. pusillum. ‘SC! Round...’ 4..P. nitidum. “WW: Ofing 5, Ps roseum.” ' BC; vel pa A. Triangular. I, PISIDIUM AM’NICUM,t MULLER. PL. I. Body whitish or greyish, slightly transparent ; foo¢ rather long, broadish at the base, abruptly pointed, capable of great exten- sion; mantle bordered with grey; szfhon short, somewhat conical, obliquely truncated at its extremity. * Pea-shaped, + Inhabiting rivers. § SPHARIDE. Shell somewhat triangular, rather swollen, solid, glossy, with deep concentric grooves, greyish horn-colour ; efzdermzs thick- ish ; azterzor side abruptly truncate ; Josterior side considerably produced (lengthened) and sloping downwards towards the lower margin ; lower margin obliquely curved ; /é2gament short, visible outside; zzszde bluish-grey, pearly ; fee¢h same as in Spherium, the lateral ones strong ; scars deepish. Inhabits slow running rivers, lakes, ponds, and canals throughout Great Britain. 2. P,. FONTINA LE,* IDDRAPARNAUD, Pie Body whitish or greyish, slightly transparent ; foot rather long, somewhat pointed ; szaztle bordered with grey ; szfhon some- what conical, obliquely truncate at its extremity, orifice large and flexible. Shell somewhat triangular, swollen, thin, shining, greyish, with fine, irregular concentric strie; epidermis very thin ; anterior side abruptly truncate; fosterzor side rounded and gradually sloping downwards ; deaks prominent and somewhat pointed ; /égament short, indistinct; inside whitish, pearly ; hinge short, thick ; zeeth as in last species; scars deepish. Inhabits sluggish rivers, canals, ponds, &c., through- out Great Britain. It is considerably smaller than the last species, and also differs from it in being thinner, and in having the posterior margin somewhat less produced, the beaks more prominent, and the ligament less distinct. Var. 1. Henslowana.—Each valve with a plate-like appendage near the beaks. Occurs in many of the northern, eastern, home, and south-western counties of England, as well as in South Wales and Cork, &.C. Barnsley Canal near Wakefield (J. Hebden), near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), ¥.C. Var. 2. pulchella.—Shell more glossy, strongly and regularly grooved ; deaks less acute. More common than the last variety, BE. * Tnhabiting fountains. PISIDIUM. 9 Var. 3. fallida—Shell more ventricose, irregularly striate, and of a paler colour, with occasionally a few darker rays which diverge from the direction of the beaks to the lower margin. Marshes and pools near Swansea, B.C. Var. 4. ciénerea.—Shell larger and flatter, with fainter striz. Widely diffused in this country, B.C. B. Oval. 2. £.,PUSTL LUM,” GMmLig. eit. Body whitish, faintly tinged with rose-colour ; foo¢ a little longer than the shell, slender ; wzazz¢/e bordered with reddish-grey ; szjhon short, somewhat conical, truncate, orifice small, edges entire. Shell nearly oval, somewhat compressed, but swollen, thin, not very glossy, irregularly and finely striate concentrically, greyish horn-colour ; efzdermis extremely thin ; axzztertor side rounded ; Posterior side rounded and sloping gradually downwards ; lower margin rounded ; deaks nearly central, short, blunt ; Zgament short, inconspicuous; zzszde greyish, not very pearly; hzuge, teeth, and scars as in P. fontinale. Inhabits weedy pools, ditches, swamps, &c., in most parts of Great Britain. It may be distinguished from P. fontinale by its oval form, and by its beaks being blunter and more central. It is usually covered with a reddish-brown incrustation. Var. “obtusalis—Shell smaller and much more ventricose ; beaks prominent, very obtuse. In similar situations with the typical form, but more local and less abundant.”—3B.C. C. Round. 4. Po NVTIDUM,| JENYNS. TPL Body whitish ; foot moderately long, finely pointed ; mantle edged with grey ; szioz funnel-shaped, short, orifice wide, with notched edges. Shell roundish, somewhat swollen above, compressed below, * Small. t+ Shining. 10 SPHARIDE. thin, very glossy, with fine, regular, concentric striz, and 3-5 broadish ribs near the beaks, yellowish white or pale horn- colour; efzdermis extremely thin; anterior side rounded, slightly truncate ; dosterior side somewhat produced, sloping abruptly downwards ; lower margin rounded ; beaks prominent, almost central, blunt ; /2gamenz¢ short, almost invisible ; zzsde whitish ; Azuge and ¢eeth as in P. fontinale ; scars distinct. Inhabits lakes, and ponds throughout Great Britain. This species differs from the rest of the Pzszdia in its more glossy and iridescent appearance, and stronger striz, as well as in its siphon being funnel-shaped and having the margin notched or puckered. Var. sflendens.—Shell lemon-coloured, much larger, not so glossy ; s¢trz@ fainter ; deaks more swollen ; /igament stronger, more apparent. Lakes near Lerwick, and at Balmacarra in West Ross, B.C. D. Oblong. 5: 2b. BO0'SEUM,* SCHOLZ. / Pia: Body “ opaline-white, orange-yellow, red, or rose-colour in the upper part ; zwbe long, slender, subconical, and truncate at its orifice ; foot long, semitransparent.”—B.C., vol. i. p. 26. Shell somewhat oblong, swollen, thin, extremely glossy, with strong, regular, concentric strize, yellowish-white or pale horn- colour; epidermis very thin; anterior side truncate, sloping downwards; osterior side elongated and rounded; Jlower margin almost straight ; deaks prominent, blunt, placed away from the centre; /égament almost invisible; zzsz¢de whitish, pearly ; cardinal teeth very small; Jdateral teeth small, outer edges strong, sharp ; scars very slight. Inhabits ponds, ditches, &c., throughout the British Isles. This species bears some resemblance to P. mitidum in its sculpture and glossy surface, but may * Rose-coloured. UNIONIDE. II readily be distinguished from it and the other members of the genus by its oblong shape, by its beaks being placed away from the centre, by the straight outline of the lower margin, and finally by the absence of striz near the beaks, or of any appearance of notching round the margin of the siphonal orifice. FAMILY II—UNIONIDZ. Body oblong, compressed ; mantle open, except behind, where it forms two orifices. Through the upper and smaller of these orifices, the edges of which are szmf/e (not fringed), the ex- cretions of the animal are voided, and it is separated from the lower and larger one by a plait or fold of the mantle; the lower and larger orifice, by means of which the animal breathes, is not simple like the other, but is furnished at its margin with several rows of threadlike filaments, which serve as tentacles or feelers ; mouth as in the first Family, consisting of a slit with two small triangular lips, and placed between the anterior (from?) adductor muscle and the base of the foot ; foot large, broad, tongue- shaped. Shell “ equivalve, oblong, inequilateral, compressed ; efzder- mis thick ; beaks (which form the nucleus, or young shell) plaited or wrinkled ; /égament external, strong, and always conspicuous ; hinge furnished with lateral teeth only ; those on the anzderzor side being sometimes so much developed as to resemble cardinal teeth.”—B.C., vol. i. p. 28. The Unionide, popularly known as “freshwater mussels,” unite the two sexes in the same individual, in other words, each animal is both male and female. Like most of the molluscs, some of them are ovipa- rous, while others, as is the case with the Spherizde, are ovoviviparous. They live in rivers, lakes, and ponds, and feed upon small aquatic animals, espe- cially the minute freshwater crustacea, which in some 12 UNIONIDE. respects resemble their marine allies the lobster, crab, shrimp, &c. They are active in their habits during the summer months, but in winter bury themselves in the mud. GENUS f—UNI0O; PHILIPPSSON: Body long, somewhat swollen ; gz//s (lower orifice) almost. straight. Shell long, solid ; dateral teeth strong ; lunule distinct. In Great Britain three species only, belong to this genus; they are all oviparous, and produce pearls. The portion of the shell which surrounds the beaks (or wmbones) is frequently eroded, or worn away. Gwyn Jeffreys believes that this is “caused by the chemical action of gases which are evolved from the mud in which this portion of the shell is usually im- bedded.” —B.C., vol. i. p. 32. 1,, UNIO: TU MIDUS | PHILIPPSSON.. RE Body greyish; foot milky-grey ; mantle edged with brown ; upper orifice elongated, brownish ; lower orzfice pale grey, some- times tinged with orange-brown. Shell oval, convex above, swollen, solid, glossy, of a brown colour, often tinged with green in the line of growth ; epzdermis strong; deaks somewhat incurved, not central, surrounded by wavy folds which are often pitted ; Zzsule narrow, lance-shaped ; ligament strong, short, prominent ; azzerzor s¢de rounded, sloping downwards ; fostertor side sloping to a point ; lower margin curved ; zzszde bluish-white, pearly ; Azmge strong; on the an- terior side of the right valve there is a strong tooth forming with the margin of the shell a groove into which a corresponding notched tooth on the other valve fits; on the posterior side * A. pearl. + Swollen. UNIO. 13 there is a long plate-like tooth which locks into a deeply grooved plate on the left valve; muscular and Pallial scars strongly defined. Inhabits rivers, ponds, and canals in the southern, midland, and some of the northern counties of Eng- land, as well as in some parts of Wales. According to Moquin-Tandon, this species breeds during the months of July and August; the eggs are deposited in masses containing about 100, and a single individual has been known to lay 1500 eggs in two or three days. Var. 1. vradiata.—Shell thinner; epidermis greenish with yellow rays ; fosterzor side more compressed above ; hznge line almost straight. River Avon near Bath, Railway lake near Oxford, B.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), River Went, Yorkshire (Chas. Ashford), near Wakefield (J. Hebden), ¥.C. Var. 2. ovalzs.—Shell triangular-oval, or wedge-shaped, com- pressed and incurved in the middle, rather inequivalve, dark olive-brown ; azterzor side broaderv, abruptly truncate ; Zunule broad, deep, oblique. River Avon, Wilts, River Brent, Bath, 73 Oe mW. Picro/'RUM,* LINNK Baw Body light red, more or less tinged with grey; foot reddish or yellowish ; mantle edged with brown ; uffer orifice elongated, dark brown ; dower orifice grey. Shell oblong, compressed, scarcely so solid as U. tumidus, yellowish girdled with brown in the lines of growth, and green towards the posterior margin, wrinkled transversely ; eSidermis thin ; deaks very slightly incurved, not central ; wmbonal region less prominent and not so strongly wrinkled as in the last species ; Zuule long, narrow ; /zgament somewhat longer than in U. tumidus ; hinge line straightish ; anterior side rounded ; posterior side sloping gently, rounded at the end ; dower margin nearly straight ; zs¢de cream-colour, or pinkish, pearly ; hénge * Painters’. 14 UNIONIDA:. moderately strong; Zeek as in last species, but sharper and not so strong; muscular scars well defined ; pallial scars in- distinct. Inhabits rivers, canals, and ponds in England as far notth as Yorkshire. It may be distinguished from U. tumidus by its oblong shape and thinner shell, by the straightness of the upper and lower margins, as well as by its beaks being less tumid, and its hinge and teeth more slender. The eggs of this species are laid during the months of May, June, and July; Bouchard-Chantereaux says that a single individual will, during that time, produce the enormous number of 220,000. The name of pictorum (belonging to painters) was given to this species because in former times the Dutch painters made use of the shells for holding their colours, and in this country at the present day they are sold containing gold and silver leaf for illuminating. The pearls produced by this and the last species are small and valueless. Var. 1. vadiata.—Shell having faint and narrow rays of green, which diverge from the beak. River Avon, Bath, B.C. Var. 2. curvirostris.—Shell smaller, shorter, and flatter ; epidermis yellowish-green with brown zones; osterzor side curved and wedge-shaped. In a brook near Harpsden Wood, Henley-on-Thames (Rich). Var. 3. Zatzor.—Shell broader and shorter, yellowish-brown. Canal near Oxford, B.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), F.C. In a brook near Harpsden Wood, Henley-on-Thames (Rich). Var. 4. compressa.—Shell very broad and flat, upper margin raised and curved; Posterior side greatly compressed and attenuated, assuming a beak-like form, and having a double ridge and furrow which runs from the beak in the younger UNIO. 15 state of growth ; dower margin straight; /umule broad, and extending between the beaks, so as to separate them from each other. Norwich (Bridgman), B.C. 3. U.. MARGARTTIFER,” Linnem Pitt. Body dirty grey with more or less of a reddish tinge, some- times of a livid flesh-colour ; foot large, tongue-shaped, somewhat obtuse, yellowish-grey or dirty red ; zante bordered with grey in front; orifices brownish-grey with whitish rays. Shell oblong, compressed, solid, not glossy, blackish-brown, strongly and roughly striate in the line of growth; epidermis thick ; deaks placed away from the centre, incurved ; wmdonal region eroded so deeply that the under layers of the shell are exposed ; /unule indistinct; /zgament very long, produced to the anterior side; Auge line curved ; anterior side rounded ; posterior side sloping gently, rounded at the end and bluntly keeled above ; ower margin straight or slightly concave ; zzside tinted with flesh-colour, pearly, stained with dirty green about the adductor muscles, and pitted in the middle ; Azzge strong, the anterior side of the left valve is furnished with a broad, strong double tooth tubercled at its tip, the posterior side has an in- distinct ridge ; on the anterior side of the right valve there is a strong cone-shaped single tooth which fits into the double tooth just described ; on the posterior side there is a ridge-like plate similar to that in the left valve ; muscular and pallial scars very strong and deep. Inhabits rivers, chiefly in the mountainous districts of Great Britain. Gwyn Jeffreys says it occurs “in several parts of the Swansea Canal, where the bottom is gravelly, having been carried in by the water- courses which supply it.” This species is longer from the beaks to the lower margin than the two preceding ones, and is more compressed, of a darker colour, and less glossy surface ; it is also subject to much greater * Pearl-bearing. 16 UNIONIDE. erosion about the beaks, and the posterior teeth are much less fully developed. The interior of the shell is very thickly coated with mother-of-pearl. Pearls occur much more frequently in this species than in U. tumidus or U. pictorum, and are usually of a larger size and of greater value than those produced by them; their prevailing colour is white, but green, brown, black, and flesh-coloured or pink ones are occasionally found, those of the latter hue, when large and well shapen, being of considerable value. At one time the pearl fisheries in this country were a sourc of considerable revenue to their owners ; it is stated in Brown’s ‘ Recent Conchology’ that the pearls sent: from’ the River “Tay, in Perthshire, to Londen: from the year 1761 to 1764, were worth 10,000/. Var. 1. s¢zuata.—Shell broader than the typical form, yel- lowish-brown ; lower margin concave in the middle. It occurs in some of the streams in the West of Scotland. I have met with it in the River Clouden, near Dumfries ; it is also found in the West of Ireland. Perthshire (F. B. White), S./V. Var. 2. Rozssyz, Michaud.—Shell proportionably longer, ower margin convex or rounded. Yorkshire (Sowerby), &.C. Perth- shire, (Fh. B: White); SZ, GENUS T1.—ANODON TA; LAMARKCK. Body somewhat oval ; #zaz¢le with thickish and fringed edges ; gills flexuous. Shell oblong, thin, somewhat compressed anteriorly, deaks not very prominent ; hinge almost toothless ; scars indistinct. The Anodonte are ovoviviparous, in which respect they differ from the Unzones, but their habits are very similar. — * Toothless. ANODONTA. 17 i. ANODONTA CYGNEA,” LINNE. PL. 1H. Body longish oval, compressed, grey, with sometimes a yellowish or reddish tint ; fvo¢ dirty yellow, more or less tinged with orange or red ; mantle brownish at the edges ; gz//s (lower orifice) grey, or reddish-grey, somewhat resembling gauze. Shell oblong, somewhat swollen, thin, rather glossy, greenish- yellow, sometimes brown, with irregular grooves formed by the lines of growth, strongly wrinkled on the posterior and lower sides ; epidermis thin; beaks straight, placed away from the centre ; wmbonal region strongly plaited, compressed ; /zgament long; hinge line straight; anterior side rounded, sloping abruptly downwards, not gaping ; fosterior stde somewhat com- pressed above, sloping gently, ending in a rounded wedge-shaped point, gaping ; Jower margin straightish ; zzs¢de white, pearly, iridescent ; Azzge small, sharply ridged in both valves on the posterior side ; scars very indistinct. Inhabits sluggish rivers, canals, ponds, &c., in most parts of Great Britain, as far north as the counties of Banff and Perth. Var. 1. radiata. — Shell larger, yellowish-green, beautifully- marked with longitudinal rays or streaks of the same colour ; beaks placed at a distance of only one-third from the anterior side. Bog of Allen, Ireland, Clumber Lake, Notts, B.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), near Wakefield (J. Hebden), ¥.C. Var. 2. zucrassata.—Shell more swollen and solid, olive- brown ; “ppfer margin or hinge line rather curved on the pos- terior side. Scarborough, Otterspool, Lancaster, Oxwich Marsh, Swansea, B.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), F.C. River Earn, Perthshire (F. Buchanan White), S./V. River Irvine, Ayrshire (McMurtrie). Var. 3. Zellensis.— Shell broader, yellowish-brown, having the upper and lower sides nearly parallel ; Josterzor s¢de much pro- duced. Bog of Allen, Ireland, Clumber Lake, Notts, &.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), F.C. Var. 4. fallida.—Shell light yellow or fawn-colour ; hinge * Of or belonging to swans, as those birds feed upon it. C 18 UNIONIDE. line rather curved, and raised on the posterior side, which is produced to a long wedge-like point ; dower margin rounded. West of Ireland, &.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), F.C. Var. 5. vostrata.—Shell oblong-oval ; upper margin forming a dorsal crest, which is slightly raised and curved ; azterior side rounded ; fostertor side attenuated, and ending in a long, curved, wedge-like point ; Zower margin nearly straight. River Corfe, Dorset, ponds at Wistow, Leicestershire, Wynyard Park, Co. Durham, and Oxford, B.C. 3) JA ANATEOI ACINNE. CPi Body nearly oval, somewhat compressed, grey of various depths of colour; foot yellowish or reddish-grey ; mantle brown at its edges ; gzl/s dirty grey. Shell oval, somewhat compressed, rather thicker than the last species, olive-green or brown, banded in the line of growth with a darker colour, usuaily rayed with green and irregularly wrinkled ; epidermis thin but slightly stronger than in A. cygnea,; beaks straight, not central; wmbonal region compressed, plaited ; ligament short, prominent ; Azzge dine curved, and considerably raised ; anterior side rounded, sloping obliquely below, gaping ; posterior side curved, sloping obliquely downwards to a wedge- shaped point; lower margin slightly curved; zuszde white, pearly, iridescent ; Azmwge as in last species ; scars deeper than in A. cygned. Inhabits situations similar to those where A. cygnea occurs. Considerable difference of opinion exists among conchologists as to whether A. anatina should be regarded as a distinct species, or merely a variety of A. cygnea. In the ‘Annals and Magazine of Nat. Hist.,’ 4th series, vol. v. p. 66, Mr. R. M. Lloyd makes the following remarks :— “Tt has been maintained that these animals are varieties, because no difference is to be found in their * Belonging to (i.e. food for) ducks. | DREISSENIDE. 19 soft parts excepting as regards the general shape, which corresponds to that of the shell; but I have observed in A. anatina, that the branchial opening is not only comparatively but actually much larger, and fringed with much more delicate and numerous tentacles than in Anodonta cygnea.’ In any case, whether a separate species or a variety only, it may be distinguished from A. cygnea by its shell being smaller, and longer in proportion; by the hinge line being vazsed instead of straight, and by the abrupt instead of gradual slope of the fosterior side. Var. 1. radiata.—Shell marked with green and yellow rays. “The rayed markings form scarcely a varietal character, being common to half-grown individuals of the last, as well as of this species.” —B.C., vol. i. p. 44. Var. 2. ventricosa.—Shell larger, more solid, exceedingly tumid, especially in the middle and towards the umbonal region, also marked with green and yellowrays. River Exe, 2.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), 7.C. Near Colchester (Laver). Var. 3. complanata.—Shell oval, greatly compressed, brown ; beaks placed close to the anterior margin ; upper margin raised and curved; azterior side abruptly truncate. Gumfrieston, near Tenby, &.C. Brook near Harpsden Wood, Henley-on- Thames (Rich). FAMILY III.—DREISSENIDZ. Body rhomboidal, compressed ; mantle closed, with the ex- ception of three orifices, two of which are placed on the posterior side ; the upper one is short and serves as the excretal passage, the lower one which is produced (lengthened) is the respiratory opening, and its margin is reflected, and fringed with spine- shaped tentacles : the third orifice is placed on the front margin and serves for the passage of the foot ; foot tongue-shaped, with a byssal groove. Shell triangular, equivalve, inequilateral ; efzdermzs strong, horny ; deaks situated at the anterior end ; /¢gament internal ; C2 20 DREISSENIDE. inside whitish ; héxge with small teeth, or toothless ; each valve has a triangular depression below the beak for the reception of the anterior muscle. The Dreissenid@ bear a strong resemblance to the marine Mytilide (mussels), but differ from them in the mantle being almost closed and in having a trans- verse plate on the hinge inside the shell. GENUS DREISSE'NA,* VAN BENEDEN. The Dreissene have the power of living for a con- siderable time out of water ; they are gregarious, and attach themselves to surrounding objects by a byssus, as the marine mussels do. A single species only, belonging to this genus, occurs in Great Britain, or indeed in Europe; it was discovered in 1754 by Pallas, a Russian naturalist, in the River Wolga, as well as in the Black Sea. In this country it was first noticed in 1824, in the neighbourhood of London, and was supposed to have been imported in timber ships from the Baltic. Gwyn Jeffreys, however, inclines to the belief that it is indigenous. DREISSENA POLYMOR’PHA,t PALLAS. PL. III. Body usually blackish: foot oblong, cylindrical, narrow, slightly transparent, grey faintly tinged with rose-colour ; man¢le bordered with grey in front, marked behind with dark brown stripes ; gz//s grey ; byssus strong. Shell triangular, sharply keeled in the centre of both valves, somewhat compressed below, gradually expanding obliquely downwards, somewhat solid, of a dullish aspect, yellowish-brown, usually marked above with wavy lines of a purplish or brownish hue, strongly wrinkled in the line of growth, faintly and irregu- larly puckered ; epzdermzs silky ; beaks small, terminal, incurved ; * Named after M. Dreissens. t+ Many-shaped. GASTEROPODA, OR UNIVALVES. 21 digament long, narrow; upper margin angular ; anterior side Straightish ; posterzor side curved ; lower margin incurved ; zuside rather pearly; Azuge toothless, strong, with a hollow, triangular plate in both valves under the beaks ; scars faint. Inhabits sluggish streams, lakes, and canals, in various parts of this country, as far north as Edin- burgh. It is most abundant in the New River, which supplies a portion of the metropolis with water. Gwyn Jeffreys was informed by Mr. Norman “that he saw immense numbers of the Drezssene, in a living state, lining some of the iron water-pipes which had been taken up in Oxford Street, and that the colouring of the shells was as vivid as if the animal had lived in the light of day.”—B.C., vol. i. p. 48. CLASS II._GASTEROPODA,* OR UNIVALVES. Body covered in front by a one-lobed mantle; head usually distinct ; ¢e#tacles four or two; eyes situated either at the ex- tremity or at the base of the tentacles, or sometimes on separate foot-stalks ; foot a muscular disc adapted for crawling and, in some instances, for floating ; reproductive system variable ; in some cases each animal is both male and female, but requires fecundation by another individual; in others the sexes are distinct, each animal being either male or female; respiratory system consisting either of gilis or of organs resembling lungs. Among the aquatic kinds both of these systems occur, but those which are terrestrial are provided with the lung-like organ only. Shell usually but not always present, consisting of a single * Belly-footed. 22 NERITIDZE. valve or piece, which is more or less conical and spiral, and usually covers the whole, but sometimes only the most vulnerable part of the body ; it is either operculate or inoperculate. The land and freshwater univalves of this country belong to one or other of the two following orders :— I. PECTINIBRANCHIATA. II. PULMONOBRANCHIATA. ORDER I—PECTINIBRANCHIATA.* Body spiral ; respiratory organ a single comb-like gill, situated inside the mantle on the upper side of the head. Shell spiral, external. The freshwater univalves of Great Britain are com- prised in three of the families which belong to this order, viz. :— I. NERITIDA. If. PALUDINIDAS. III. VALVATIDZ. The animals are provided with a pair of tentacles, and two eyes placed at their base. The shell is operculate and covered by an epidermis. FAMILY I.—NERITIDZ. Body short ; eyes placed on short foot-stalks at the base of the tentacles ; gz// seated within the mantle ; sexes separate. Shell semi-globose; sfzve excentric, few-whorled ; mouth transversely semi-lunar; operculum provided on the under side with a curved and deeply-grooved projection or plate-like appendage. * Having comb-like gills. NERITINA. 23 In Great Britain this family is represented by a single genus, which contains only one species :— NERITI'NA,* LAMARCK. Hlead provided with a strong proboscis or snout ; ¢entacles long ; eyes situated on short, slender foot-stalks ; foot broad ; central lingual tooth minute ; first lateral tooth large, sub- triangular, the two next minute ; wsczzz about sixty, the first large, the rest slender, hooked and denticulated. Shell obliquely ovate ; oferculum calcareous, solid. NWERITINA FLUVIATILIS LINNE. “PE lve Body yellowish-grey, spotted with black; ead and snout black ; ¢ezfacles rather transparent, of a light slaty-grey colour, with transverse streaks of black on the sides ; slightly thickened and widely diverging at their base, slender, and tapering to a fine point; eyes very large, black; foot broadly dilated and rounded in front, sole whitish, tail covered by the operculum. Shell obliquely ovate, solid, glossy, of a brownish or yellowish colour, chequered with white, brown, purple, or pink, marked with a few strongly-defined lines of growth, and more numerous and finer intermediate striz; efzdermis thin; whorls three, convex, rapidly and abruptly increasing, body whorl occupying more than two-thirds of the shell; sfzve very short; suture rather deep ; south transversely semi-lunar ; outer 7p sharp ; inner lip flat, glossy, exceedingly broad, continuous with the outer lip ; operculum semi-lunar, glossy, bright yellow or orange- colour, with a few spiral grooves and numerous finer and flexuous striz in the line of growth; outer edge thin, membranous, margined with orange or yellow of a deeper colour, or sometimes with red ; inner edge thick ; spire with from one and a half to two whorls ; the under side is fitted with a small, grooved, sickle- shaped projection, which serves as a lock or fastening by which the operculum is kept in position. * Diminutive of Verzta, a genus of marine molluses. ¢ Inhabiting rivers. 24 NERKITIDZ. Inhabits rivers, and lakes which are supplied with running water, especially where the bottom is gravelly, in many parts of Great Britain, but not everywhere. Gwyn Jeffreys remarks that JVerztina “is very closely allied to WVerzfa,’ a genus of marine molluscs, of which it “probably only forms a section,’ and that “there are marine as well as freshwater species of WVerztina.” He found Werttina fluviatilis in Loch Stennis, Ork- ney, with the marine Mya arenaria. The Rev. J. McMurtrie has very kindly furnished me with the following particulars respecting the above-named locality :—“ Loch Stennis communicates with the sea, and the lower reach is salt, becoming only slightly brackish at the constriction where the loch is divided into two reaches. I found a few specimens in com- paratively salt water, but at and above the con- striction, where the water is only very slightly brackish, VVerztina becomes abundant. The shells are clean and beautifully marked.’ Claparede states that the female deposits her capsules upon the shell of her neighbour, not upon her own, or more rarely upon stones or the shells of other molluscs. Each cap- sule contains from forty-five to sixty eggs, but only a single embryo is developed, the rest of the eggs being devoured by the young Neritina before it emerges from the capsule. The capsules, which are often mistaken for the eggs, are globular, slightly flattened on one side, and enclosed in a tough covering, consisting of two segments, which are firmly united together at first, but split asunder when the embryo is excluded, the upper half falling off, while the lower one is left adhering to the object to which it was attached. PALUDINA. 25 FAMILY II.—PALUDINIDZ. Body oval, elongated, spiral, capable of being entirely con- tained within its shell, provided with a prominent snout; eyes placed either on a short stalk at the base of the tentacles, or sessile ; foot oval, much dilated ; 2/7 placed within the mantle ; sexes separate ; lingual ribbon usually with a few rows, each having seven teeth, one szedzan or central tooth, and three on each side of it. Shell dextral, conical, ventricose ; sf#zre long, symmetrical ; mouth oval ; operculum oval, either horny or testaceous, irregu- larly concentric. The members of this family are vegetable feeders ; some of them are oviparous, and others ovoviviparous ; in the latter case the fry, to the number of from twenty to thirty, remain in the ovary of the parent for about two months, their opercula being formed before they are Dorm, and they are excluded three or four ata time at intervals of several days. GENUS I—PALUDI'NA,** LAMARCK. Animal ovoviviparous ; eyes placed on short footstalks; ofer- culum horny, irregularly concentric ; zucleus placed towards the inner side. When the fry of the Paludine are excluded the epidermis of the last formed whorl is furnished with three rows of recurved bristles, which are shed after a time, and replaced by the brown bands with which the full-grown shell is marked. PALUDINA CONTEC TA,| MILLET... .PInDV ANDES Body black, dark-grey, or brownish, spotted with yellow; head small, very globular ; szout large, bilobed ; ¢extacles blackish with yellowish tips, long, thick at their base, diverging consider- * Living in marshes. ¢ Covered (by the operculum). 26 PALCDINIDA. ably ; in the male the right tentacle is rather shorter, and thicker at the tip, than the left; eyes moderately large, round, black ; foot with a yellowish margin, broadly rounded in front, tail nearly covered by the operculum. Shell conical, not very solid, moderately glossy, greenish, sometimes tinged with brown ; with fine, close-set but irregular strize in the line of growth, which are intersected by numerous faint spiral lines; body whorl with 3 and the two preceding whorls with 2 broadish, brown, spiral bands; efzdermzs not very thick; whorls, 6-7, very much swollen, body whorl occupy- ing about half of the length of the shell; sature exceedingly deep ; mouth oval inclining to circular ; outer (zp sharp, slightly reflected ; zznuer lif forming with the other a complete peri- stome ; wmbzlicus oblique, narrow but deep; operculum rather thin, distinctly marked with the lines of growth as well as with fine, close-set, intermediate strize, nucleus depressed. Inhabits sluggish streams, lakes, ponds, and canals as far north as Yorkshire, but it is a local species. It is sluggish and irritable, and falls the instant it is touched, from stones or other hard substances to which it frequently attaches itself. The shell is carried almost horizontally when the animal is crawling. Var. virescens.—Shell “bandless and of a pale greenish colour. Brigg, Lincolnshire (Mr. Thos. Ball). The fry are easily distin- guishable from those of P. vzvipara.”—B.C., Supplement, vol. v. p. 151. 2. A VIVE PARA PPL Dy AN Body dark slate-colour or nearly black, with fine yellow spots, somewhat paler in colour and more distinctly spotted under- neath ; ¢zeztacles bluish-black with golden-coloured spots, some- what conical, rather slender ; in the male the right tentacle is considerably shorter and thicker than the left; eyes rather prominent, round, black; foot very broad, slightly truncate in front, tail broad but ending in a fine point. Shell conical, but longer and more oval than that of the last * Producing its offspring alive and perfect. BYTHINTA, 27 species, rather solid, not very glossy, yellowish-green, banded and striated as P. contecta; epidermis thickish; whorls 63, rather swollen, body whorl occupying fully one-half of the length of the shell; afex rather blunt; sazture deepish ; mouth more oval than in the last species; outer 7H somewhat thick, slightly reflected ; zwer d¢p forming with the other a complete peristome ; zbzlicus a mere chink ; operculum rather thick, depressed lengthwise, striated as in the preceding species. Inhabits sluggish rivers, lakes, and canals in many parts of England; in Scotland it seems to be of rare occurrence, but it has been “found at Findhorn, in the Moray Frith district.” Brown, in his ‘Recent Conchology,’ says it occurs in Ireland in a stream at Newtownards, Co. Down. The shell of this species differs from that of the last in being more elongated and thicker, in the whorls being very much less tumid, the suture much shallower, and the apex blunter ; the mouth too is less circular. It is more active than P. contecta, and is exceed- ingly prolific. Millet counted in the ovary of a female no less than eighty-two fry of different stages of growth. Var. 1. uwmicolor.—Shell bandless. Hertfordshire, Thames at Richmond, B.C. Var. 2. atro-furpurea.— Shell same shape as the normal form, but of a black colour, which when viewed by transmitted light is dark purple. In the canal at Pontypool (R. M. Eloya), 7.C.,. Feb;, 1374, p:.6: GENUS IIT—BYTHINIA,* GRAY. Eyes sessile, placed at the base of the tentacles ; operculum testaceous, irregularly concentric, nucleus nearly central. The animals belonging to this genus differ from those of the last in the following particulars :—They * Living in deep water. 28 PALUDINIDA. are Oviparous, instead of ovoviviparous; their eyes are not placed on pedicles, or foot-stalks, but are sessile ; the operculum is testaceous, instead of horny, and its nucleus is nearly central; the right tentacle of the male is of the ‘same size as the Weft) Gwyn Jeffreys very justly remarks that “although the de- rivation of the word Aythinia would imply that these molluscs inhabit deeper water than others of the same family, such is not the case; they generally frequent small streams, canals, shallow ponds, and ditches.” —B.C., vol. i. p. 59. They breed from May till August, and the eggs, which vary in number from ten to seventy, are de- posited on stones or aquatic plants, in three, or more rarely in two rows, which form a transparent band. The fry are excluded at the end of from twenty to twenty-five days, and attain their full growth in about two years. I. BYTHINIA’ TENTACULATA,”© LINNE (PLO: Body black or dark brown above, dirty grey beneath ; ead small, semi-oval ; Zeztacles filiform, considerably diverging ; eyes prominent, somewhat oval, black; mouth with a reddish margin ; foot much broader than the snout, rounded in front, nearly opaque, edges greyish ; tail bluntly rounded at its extremity, half hidden by the operculum. Shell conical, moderately solid, rather glossy, semi-transparent, yellowish or brownish horn-colour ; closely and finely striate in the line of growth and microscopically so in a spiral direction ; epidermis thin; whorls 5-6, convex, body whorl occupying rather more than one-half of the length of the shell, apex some- what sharply pointed ; sz¢urve oblique, rather deep; south oval, angulated above; outer if thick, and frequently furnished in- * Provided with tentacles. BY THINIA. 29 ternally with a strongish white rib; zzser /zf joined to the base of the penultimate whorl and forming with the outer lip a com- plete peristome ; umbilical chink very narrow ; operculum thick, oval, angulated above, centre depressed, finely striated concen- trically, and made up of a series of plates rising one above another, which have been formed by the animal at different stages of its growth. Inhabits slow-running streams, ponds, and ditches in most parts of England, Wales, and Ireland; in Scotland, where it seems to be very local, it has been observed in Aberdeenshire ; the Rev. J. McMur- trie informs me that it occurs abundantly in the canal at Edinburgh, and I have found it in Dumfries- shire. It is an inactive and irritable mollusc; when touched it instantly retreats into its shell. It fre- quently floats on the under surface of the water, and when crawling carries its snout turned upwards. In winter the animal is said to assume “a yellowish chestnut-colour” (Daniel), &.C., Supplement, vol. v. PUG Var. 1. ventricosa (Menke).—Shell white, whorls more tumid. Devonshire, Bristol, Wandsworth, Richmond, Surrey, £&.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), 7.C. Var. 2. excavata.—Whorls rounder; suture deeper. Wool- wich, Cardiff, Co. Armagh, &.C. Kirkthorpe, near Wakefield (J. Hebden), near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), F.C. Var. 3. albzda.—Shell white. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff wye).7.C. Near Colchester (Laver): Monst. deco/lata.—Upper whorls wanting in half-grown and adult specimens, their place being supplied by a nearly flat semispiral plate, as in Luldimus decollatus. Woolwich, Cardiff, Co. Armagh, &.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), near Wakefield (J. Hebden), 7.C. 30 VALVATIDZ. 2. B. LEACHIL* SHEPPARD. “Puy TV; Body whitish, marked with black spots, and golden dots which are visible through the shell; ¢ez¢acles rather trans- parent, nearly colourless; eyes black; szout bilobed, spotted with black, often reddish at the extremity ; foot slender. Shell subconical, moderately thin and transparent, yellowish horn-colour, glossy, with faint spiral striz and stronger lines of growth ; epidermis very thin ; whorls 4-5, very tumid, rounded, body whorl occupying nearly one-half of the length of the shell; spire with a somewhat obtuse apex; sz/z7'e very deep, straightish; mouth nearly circular, much less angulated above than in B. tentaculata ; outer lip thickish, slightly ribbed internally, very little reflected ; zzuer @2f forming with the other a complete peristome ; wzmzbzlicus small, but distinct ; operculum nearly circular, flattish, striated asin B. ¢entaculata. Inhabits situations similar to those in which the last species is found, but it is much less common. It differs from it in being very much smaller, as well as in having a more circular mouth and oper- culum, a deeper suture, anda more distinct umbilicus. Var. 1. elongata.—Shell smaller; spire longer. Woolwich Marshes, Northampton, &.C. Var. 2. albtda.—Shell white. FAMILY III.—VALVATIDZ. Body spiral ; zeztacles 2, contractile ; eyes placed on the inner side of the tentacles at their base; foot separated from the snout ; g7/7 extending beyond the margin of the mantle, pro- vided with a contractile feather-like apparatus; reproductive system androgynous, each individual being both male and female. Shell spiral, ventricose, more or less depressed ; Perzstome complete ; operculum regularly many-spiral. * Named after Dr. Leach. VALVATA. 31 The respiratory organs of the Valvatide are very singular. When the animal whilst crawling is ex- tended, the gill is protruded beyond the edge of the mantle in the form of an elongated, conical process called the branchial plume, which is provided on each side with a number of slender, spirally-twisted fila- ments, causing the organ to appear like a feather; the mantle itself, also, is furnished on the right side with a filament which somewhat resembles a tentacle and is, as well as the other organ, used for respiration. This is the branchial appendage. The animals belonging to this family are grega- rious. They frequent sluggish waters, and feed upon aquatic plants. Both sexes are united in the same individual when it has arrived at maturity, but in the early stages of its growth it is male or female only. The Valvatide very frequently attach their shells to the cases of the larve of Phrygania, popu- larly known as Caddice-worms. One genus only be- longs to this family, viz :— VALVA'TA,*® MULLER. Body spiral, capable of being entirely contained within the shell ; eyes almost sessile, placed on the inner side of the ten- tacles at their base. Shell dextral ; wsdilzcus deep ; operculum horny. i.. VALVATA -PISCINA LIST MULLER.) PL Ey. Body transparent, of a light yellowish-grey; zeztacles thickish, placed rather near to each other ; eyes large, round, black; szoud¢ narrow, yellowish-grey, with a tinge of brown underneath, finely wrinkled ; branchial plume with 14 filaments on each side * Valved (i. e. having an operculum). } Living in fish-ponds, 32 VALVATIDE. placed at right angles to the stalk; dranchial appendage as long as the tentacles ; foof six times as broad as the snout, from which it is entirely separated, deeply bilobed in front and rounded behind, tail long, nearly covered by the operculum; @xgual ribbon long, central tooth subquadrate, its base produced, hooked and denticulated ; «cuz three on each side, lanceolate, toothed on both sides. Shell globose, depressed, rather thick, semitransparent, horn- colour with a yellowish or brownish tinge, with fine, regular close-set striz in the line of growth, and more or less ridged spirally ; whorls 5-6, tumid, rounded, the body whorl occupying more than one-half of the length of the shell; sfzve depressed and obtuse ; swture deep, straightish ; #zowth round ; outer lip thickish, reflected ; zzser /7p forming with the outer lip a com- plete peristome ; 22z/icus round, not very large but exceedingly deep ; oferculum round, its centre somewhat depressed, with a spire of from 10-12 volutions whose outer edges slightly overlap one another. Inhabits ponds, canals, and sluggish streams throughout the British Isles. It is inactive and ir- ritable. Moquin-Tandon says it breeds during the months of May, June, July, and August, and that the eggs, to the number of about seventeen, are en- closed in a capsule, which is fixed to some solid substance. The fry are hatched after an interval of from fifteen to sixteen days, and on emerging from the egg are provided with a shell consisting of a whorl and a half; it is delicately striated, and so transparent that the little animal, one half of which is yellowish and the other greenish, is distinctly visible within. Var. 1. depressa.— Spire more depressed; wszdbzlicus larger ; occurs in many parts of Great Britain, but it is local. Var. 2. subcylindrica.—Spire more produced, apex flattened ; umbilicus small. Grassmere (J. G. J.), &.C. River Went (J. Hebden) 3776 PULMONOBRANCHIATA. 33 Var. 3. acuminata.—Sfire still more produced and ending in a rather sharp point. Avon River, Bristol (J. G. J.), North of Ireland (Mrs. Puxley), &.C., vol. i. p. 73. Monst. szzzstrorsa.—“ Sunbury (Groves),” Gwyn Jeffreys, ‘Annals and Magazine of Nat. Hist.,’ Nov. 1878, p. 382. a. Vi CRISTATA,” MULLER Bre nve Body dark brown or greyish above, slaty-grey below ; /en- zacles filiform, close together, very slightly pointed, but recurved at their tips; eyes small, round, black; szou¢ rather narrow, curved, very convex above, broad in front, wrinkles indistinct ; mouth narrow, nearly straight ; dranchial plume transparent, with about fifteen filaments on each sideof the stalk; branchial appendage shorter than the tentacles ; foot entirely separated _ from the snout, deeply cleft in front, greyish-brown, tail broad, keeled below. Shell discoid, flat above, concave beneath, rather solid, slightly transparent, pale horn-colour, with close-set striz in the line of growth ; epidermis thin ; whorls 3-5, body whorl occupying at least two-thirds of the elk. spire slightly concave ; mouth round ; outer @zp thin, Seat reflected ; zuner lip ed from the base of the penultimate whorl, continuous with the other lip ; wzmebzlicus large; operculum round, hollow, spire with about twelve volutions, their outer margins forming projecting ridges. Inhabits the same situations as the last species, from which it may be easily distinguished by the flatness of its shell, which in this respect resembles that of Planorbis. It is an inactive and timid mollusc. ORDER II]. PULMONGBRANCHIATAF Respiratory apparatus chiefly consisting of a network of delicate vessels seated within a fold of the mantle and adapted for the respiration of atmospheric air; in those cases in which aquatic * Crested (in allusion to the dranchial plume). + Provided with a gill resembling a lung. 34 LIMNALIDEA. respiration is required, it is also provided with lamellar (leaf-like) branchie. Shell usually external and spiral, occasionally internal, and sometimes altogether wanting. Some of the members of this order are inoperculate, while others are provided with an operculum; in the former case both sexes are united in the same animal, but fertilization by another individual is necessary ; in the latter case, i.e. when the animal is operculate, each individual is male or female only. By far the greater number of the British Pulmo- nobranchs are terrestrial. The aquatic kinds inhabit slow rivers, ponds, ditches, &c., but they all require atmospheric air from time to time, and frequently rise to the surface to inhale it; some species leave the water altogether for a considerable period, and often travel sgme distance away from it. Most of the molluscs comprised in this order are herbivorous, but some are also carnivorous, and those of one genus at least (Testacella) are entirely so. In this country the Pulmonobranchs are repre- sented by six families; the members of five of them are terrestrial, and those of the remaining one, with which we have first to deal, are aquatic. FAMILY I.—LIMNZAIDZ. Body usually long and spiral, rarely (as in Azcylus) short and hood-shaped ; szantle covering the front part; ¢eztacles 2, con- tractile, more or less pointed at their tips ; eves situated on the inner side of the tentacles at their base, towards the front; foot distinct from the body, oval, adapted for crawling or floating ; lingual dentition various. Shell spiral or hood-shaped. The Limnzidz are comprised in the following four genera :— PLANORBIS. 35 I. PLANORBIS. Lh. PHYSA: III. LIMNAA. IV. ANCYLUS. GENUS I.—PLANOR'BIS,* GUETTARD. Body long, capable of being entirely contained within the shell; ¢entacles very long, slender; respiratory orifice on the left side ; foot oval, narrow, short, rounded in front and behind, and attached to the body by a long, slender stalk ; jaw usually single and slightly arched ; /2zgual ribbon with straight trans- verse rows, central tooth usually two-pointed, lateral teeth three- pointed. Shell quoit-shaped or flattish ; sfzve dextral ; wmdzlicus more or less distinct. The Planorbes inhabit sluggish streams and stag- nant water; they have the power of crawling and floating, and frequently remain in a reversed position on the under surface of the water. When the ditches and marshes which they inhabit are dry some species shut themselves up within their shell, by forming an epiphragm round its aperture, till the return of rain. They are vegetable feeders. When irritated they instantly retreat into their shell, at the same time often emitting a reddish coloured liquid, which is secreted by a gland at the sides of the neck. The most remarkable characteristic of the Planorbes is that while their respiratory, anal, and generative orifices are placed on the left side, their shell is dextral; many authors have on this account regarded the shell as sinistral, but Linné, Miller and other * Flat coil. 36 LIMNAVIDA. writers, as well as in the present day Gwyn Jeffreys, have upon sufficiently strong grounds maintained that it is undeniably dextral. To aid the reader in the identification of thee species I will again follow the method adopted by the author of * British: Conchology,, and divide themiante sections. “ A. Shell glossy, last whorl very large in proportion to the rest, and partly covering the preceding one.” BC. WOl vic Deano: {.) PLANORBIS LINEA’ TUS* WALKER, PE IVe Body very slightly transparent, brown with a reddish or violet tinge above, of a paler colour underneath ; zev¢acles filiform, long, slender, separated at their base, tolerably transparent, yellowish- brown ; eves small, not very prominent ; foof broad, rounded in front, gradually tapering to a point behind. Shell quoit-shaped, compressed, but somewhat more convex above than below, thin, exceedingly glossy, semitransparent, yellowish or brownish horn-colour, sometimes grey, with close- set transverse striz which are stronger and curved near the aperture or mouth of the shell ; epzdermzs very thin ; periphery obtusely keeled ; whorls 4, compressed, body whorl larger than the rest of the shell, and overlapping a great part of the penulti- mate whorl, provided internally with 2-5 rows of whitish, curved ridges or plates, which are placed at nearly equal distances from, and opposite to each other, so as to divide the interior of the whorl into separate sef/a or chambers ; these plates are distinctly visible through the shell ; sAzre Beesley sunk ; swture shallow but distinct ; #zouwth forming about two-thirds ae. a compressed oval ; outer lip thin, flexuous, bluntly angular above ; wmdzlicus narrow but deepish. Inhabits sluggish streams and ponds in the home and eastern counties of England; it occurs “in pro- * Having lines or ridges. PLANORBIS. 37 fusion in Dringhouses Bog, near York” (Hey), 7.C, Oct. 1879 ; it has also been found in Nottinghamshire, and in Ireland, in Co. Tipperary, but it is not a com- mon species. It is rather active, and when crawling carries its shell in the same plane with its foot. It breeds in August, laying only from three to eight eggs, which are enclosed in a roundish, transparent, amber-coloured capsule. The young are excluded in from ten to twelve days. 2. PO NETIDUS,* MULLER. .PIeiy, Body rather transparent, reddish-grey or ash-colour with a yellowish tinge, somewhat darker underneath, marked with numerous very fine dark grey specks ; ¢ev¢ac/es filiform, extremely slender, pointed at their tips, transparent, pale reddish-grey ; eyes prominent ; foot short, obtuse in front, narrowing slightly towards the tail which is bluntish at its extremity. Shell quoit-shaped, much depressed, very thin and glossy, iridescent, greyish or pale yellowish horn-colour, sometimes faintly tinted with red ; with fine, indistinct striz in the line of growth, and sometimes microscopically striate spirally ; eAzdermis very thin ; Jerzphery sharply keeled ; whorls 4-5, the last but one about half covered by the body whorl which slopes gradually outwards ; sfzre depressed, but much less so than that of P. lineatus ; suture deepish ; mouth as in the last species but more compressed ; wmdzlicus small, shallow. _ Inhabits lakes, ponds, and marshes in most parts of Great Britain, attaching itself to and feeding upon aquatic plants. It is a timid and inactive species ; the eggs, in number from three to five (rarely six), are roundish or slightly oval, transparent, and somewhat depressed. * Shining. 38 LIMNAIDE. The shell of this species is thinner and of a paler colour than that of P. “xeatus, the spire is more raised, the keel is sharper, and the interior of the body whorl is not divided into septa or chambers. B. Whorls few. 3, PF. NAUTIEEUS@, LINNE., Ba. 1y, Body greyish-brown, rather paler underneath, dotted with small black specks ; ead very thick ; ¢ezzacles nearly cylindrical, rather thick, transparent, light grey, considerably separated at their base ; eyes moderately large, round, black ; /vot¢ greyish- brown with a reddish tinge, rounded in front, narrow but terminating obtusely behind. Shell discoid, depressed, flat or slightly concave above, rather convex beneath, thin, subpellucid, of a dullish aspect, brownish, or greyish, occasionally white ; efzdermzs thickish ; periphery slightly and obtusely keeled ; zorls 3, body whorl larger than the rest of the shell, furnished at regular intervals with strong curvilinear ridges, which are often armed with spinous crests ; suture deepish ; mouth oval, or somewhat circular, oblique ; outer lip thin, forming a complete peristome with the inner one ; uutbelicus large. Inhabits lakes and ponds throughout Great Britain, attaching itself to aquatic plants. This is an ex- ceedingly beautiful little creature; the shell, as its name implies, bears a strong resemblance to some of the Mautili, which inhabit tropical seas. It is usually to be found on the uwzder side of the leaves of water plants, particularly those of the water lily when they are partially decayed. It is an inactive species ; when crawling, the animal carries its shell inclined to one * Resembling a nautilus. PLANORBIS. 39 side. It lays from three to six eggs, and the fry are hatched in about ten or twelve days afterwards. Var. cristata.—Shell smaller, ridges more distant, stronger, and more distinctly crested. Not unfrequently found with the typical form. 4. PAE eUs,” MULLER EEA Body dirty brown, with a reddish tinge, indistinctly spotted with black; head large; ‘tentacles slender, pointed at their tips, widely diverging at their base, rather transparent, light yellow with a reddish tint ; eyes very small, nearly oval, black ; foot dark reddish-brown, rounded in front, narrowing behind, and ending in an obtusely pointed tail. Shell flattish above, with a hollow in the middle, more concave below, thin, brittle, of a dull appearance, pale grey, closely and delicately striate in the line of growth, more distinctly marked with raised strize spirally ; epzdermzs thick, often clothed with fine bristles, which are easily rubbed off; Derzpfhery somewhat compressed, not keeled ; whorls 5, body whorl larger than the rest ; suture deepish ; mouth roundish-oval ; outer lif somewhat reflected ; zzmer lip spread on the base of the penultimate whorl, and continuous with the outer lip; zszdzlccus large. Inhabits lakes, ponds, and stagnant water in many parts of Great Britain, as far north as Aberdeenshire. It is a sluggish and irritable species, and carries its shell on one side as it moves along. The eggs, which number from four to ten, are enclosed in transparent capsules of a roundish form, and the fry are hatched in about twelve days. Var. Draparnaldi.—Shell with closer and sharper strize in the line of growth; periphery distinctly keeled; wszdzlicus deeper. Holbrook, Suffolk (Sheppard), Cardiff, Bristol, Church Stretton in Shropshire (J. G.J.), B.C. Pond at Sandal near Wakefield (Sheppard), near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), #.C. * White. 40 LIMNATIDA. f.) P.) GLA BER)* JEPPREYS, DEE, “‘ Body yellowish-grey ; zez¢acles rather short, cylindrical and ending in a blunt point ; foof rather broad, especially in front, with a yellowish edge.”—B.C., vol. i. p. 85. Shell somewhat convex above with a depression in the centre, concave underneath, rather thin, glossy, greyish horn-colour, sometimes marked transversely with curved streaks of a whitish colour, with fine irregular strize in the line of growth, and micro- scopically striate spirally ; efzdermzs thin ; periphery rounded, not keeled ; whorls 5, convex but slightly angulated, body whorl occupying about one-half of the shell ; sawzwre strongly defined ; mouth nearly circular ; outer lip slightly reflected ; zazer lip joined to the base of the penultimate whorl, continuous with the outer lip; zmzbzlicus large. This species was first described by Gwyn Jeffreys, in? ‘the -“iransactions’ of the “Linnean; Society, (vol. xvi. p. 387). Though its range in this country is a wide one, extending from the Shetland Isles to Land's: End, it ‘is extremely. .local, but, abun- dant where it occurs. It has been observed in the following localities, and will probably be found, from time to time, in other places. Near Norwich (Bridg- man), B.C. Ackworth Park, Yorkshire (C. Ashford), Northumberland and Durham (W. D. Sutton), near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), 7.C. sSomersetshire (Norman). The chief points of difference between this shell and that of P. aldus consist in its being smaller, and glossy instead of dull, in the convexity of the upper surface, and more particularly in the absence of the strong spiral strize which are so characteristic of the latter. Var. compressa.—Shell more concave below than in the type, and only depressed in the centre on the upper side, the whorls * Smooth, PLANORBIS. 41 also are rounder, and do not increase so quickly, making the whole shell more compact. Found in the neighbourhood of Birmingham by R. M. Lloyd, 7.C., Feb. 1874, p. 7. C. Whorls many, keeled. 6. Po SPIROR'BIS,* MULEER, EE TY. Body grey, with more or less of a purplish or reddish tinge ; tentacles filiform, long, finely pointed, transparent, of an ash- colour very faintly tinted with pink ; eyes small, round, intensely black ; foot short, slightly transparent at its edges, bluntly rounded in front and ending in an obtusely angular tail. Shell usually somewhat concave above and flattish underneath, sometimes the reverse, or slightly concave both above and below ; rather thick, shining, of a brown horn-colour, with well- defined close-set striz in the line of growth, and very indistinctly striate spirally ; efzdermis,thin; periphery somewhat angular, often obtusely keeled below; whor/s 5-6, rounded but somewhat angulated, body whorl rather broader than the others; suture deep ; outh nearly round, often provided internally with a rib ; outer lip scarcely reflected ; zxner lip spread on the base of the penultimate whorl, continuous with the outer lip; wmdbzlicus large but shallow. Inhabits stagnant water and sluggish streams in every part of Great Britain. As is the case with other members of the genus, the shell of this species is often distorted, the whorls being drawn out and separated from each other, causing it to assume the appearance of a corkscrew. Var. ecarinata.—“ Shell smaller, light grey, having one whorl less than usual and no trace of a keel,” B.C, vol. 1. p. 87. Gwyn Jeffreys says it appears to be very rare in this country, he only found it once and that was in Oxwich Marsh near Swansea. My friend Dr. Laver of Colchester informs me that he has met with tim Essex, * Having a round spire. 42 LIMNAIDZ. 72. VOR'TEX;* DINNG, EL Body rather slender, reddish-brown tinged with violet above, of a lighter shade beneath, indistinctly speckled with black; head very large, much rounded in front; Zeztacles slender, pointed at the tips, somewhat thicker, and widely diverging at their base; eyes black; foot reddish-brown with a yellowish tinge, margins paler, rounded in front, and ending in a tapering and keeled tail. Shell greatly compressed, somewhat concave above, flat be- neath, thin, glossy, greyish or brownish horn-colour, regularly and closely marked with fine strize in the line of growth, some- times very faintly striate also spirally; efzdermzs thin; periphery distinctly keeled below ; whords 6-8, somewhat angular, gradually increasing in size; sz¢ure distinct but rather shallow; mouth nearly oval, slightly compressed, acutely angulated above, in- ternal margin often strengthened by a slender rib ; oud¢er lzp not reflected ; zzzer lif continuous with the other, widely spread over the base of the penultimate whorl ; wmdzlzcus broad, not deep. Inhabits the same situations as P. sfzrorbis, from which it may be distinguished by its thinner and flatter shell, by its distinct and sharper keel, and by the shape of the mouth, which is oval and angulated, instead of nearly circular. It is an inactive and irritable species, and delights in floating lazily on the under surface of the water. When, during hot weather, the places of its abode are dried up, it buries itself under the mud and weeds, and after closing the aperture of its shell with a thin white epiphragm, it awaits in a torpid state the return of rain. Var. compressa.—Shell thinner and flatter, £ee7 more prominent and placed near the centre of the periphery. It is often found with the typical form. * A whirlpool. PLANORBIS. 43 be Pi CARINATUS” Murer £ bs lV: Body dark reddish-brown, slightly greyish beneath, indistinctly spotted with black; ¢etacles slender but somewhat thickened at their base, transparent, yellowish, with a tinge of pink, tips bluntish ; eyes very {small, round, black; foot reddish-grey beneath, darker towards the middle, roundish in front, and ending in a broadish, blunt tail. Shell compressed, concave above, nearly flat or slightly convex beneath, thin, somewhat glossy, slightly transparent, pale brownish horn-colour, with fine close-set striz in the line of growth, and faintly striate spirally ; eAzdermzs thin; periphery prominently keeled in or near to the centre; whorls 5-6, rather rapidly increasing in size, body whorl sloping gradually towards the periphery on both sides ; suture deep; mouth obliquely oval, acutely angulated above, sometimes furnished with an internal rib ; outer lip very little reflected ; zzner lif widely spread over the base of the penultimate whorl and continuous with the other; umbilicus very small. Inhabits slow rivers and stagnant water in many parts of Great Britain, but it is local and not very abundant where it does occur. It seems to be most plentiful in the home and eastern counties, but its range is somewhat wide, as it has also been found in those of Dorset, Somerset, Northampton, York, Durham (W. D. Sutton), Oxford (D. Pidgeon), as well as in some parts of Wales and Ireland. It is an inactive species, at one time attaching itself firmly to smooth substances, at another floating idly on the under surface of the water. Its eggs, to the number of ten to twelve, are laid during the months of May, June, and July, and are deposited in roundish capsules, the fry being hatched in about ten or twelve days. * Keeled. 44 LIMNAIDEA. Var. disciformis.— Shell flatter and thinner, of a yellowish colour, having the last whorl larger in proportion to the others, and the #eel more prominent and sharp, and placed exactly in the middle. It is found in Bucks, Oxford, Cambridge, Glamorgan, Cork, and Tipperary, and is somewhat rare.”—S.C., vol.i. p. 90. Titterford and Sutton-Coldfield near Birmingham (eG, shermii Tye); 7.C. 9. P. COMPLANATUS,* LINNE. © LTV: Body dark violet-red, very slightly transparent ; zezzacles fili- form, slender, somewhat pointed at the tips, thicker at their base, yellowish faintly tinged with rose-colour; eyes small, round, black; foot violet-red, greyish at the edges, finely spotted with black, rounded in front, and ending in a blunt tail. Shell concave above, nearly flat beneath, thickish, almost opaque, usually of a dullish appearance, brownish or greyish horn-colour, with close-set striz in the line of growth, and indistinctly striate spirally ; efzdermzs thickish; feriphery strongly keeled below; whorls 5-6, rapidly enlarging, more rounded than in P. carizatus, body whorl in breadth about one- quarter of the shell ; sw¢wre deepish ; #ou¢h rounded-oval, some- what angulated above, often ribbed internally ; ouzer zp slightly reflected ; zzaer lip spread over the base of the penultimate whorl and continuous with the outer lip; wazdzlicus large but not deep. Inhabits slow rivers, ponds, and stagnant water in most places in England, Wales, and Ireland. In Scotland it is abundant near Edinburgh, in Dud- dington and Lochend Lochs, as well as in marshes at Luffness Links, East Lothian (McMuttrie). Like the preceding species, this is a sluggish and irritable creature ; when touched it instantly falls from the object to which it had attached itself, retreating * Flattened PLANORBIS. 45 at the same time far within its shell, which, as is the case with the other members of the genus, is con- siderably larger than the body of the animal. Moquin- Tandon says that it lays its eggs during the months of April, May, and June; they vary in number from six to twenty-one, are glossy, of a roundish form, and enclosed in from eight to ten capsules which are either roundish or oblong. It is rather difficult to distinguish this from the last species, and some con- chologists are consequently doubtful as to their being specifically distinct ; but the shell of P. complanatus is rather larger and thicker than that of P. carinatus, the whorls are more rounded, the keel is placed on the lower side instead of near the middle of the periphery, and the mouth is more roundly oval and scarcely so angular above. Monstrosities occur in this as in most of the species of Planorbis, having their whorls more or less separated from each other. Var. 1. rhombea.—Shell smaller, more solid, more convex above, deeply umbilicated below; keel blunt and almost obsolete. Near Dublin and in the South of Ireland, 2.C. Erith, Ment (EH. Leslie), 7.C. Var. 2. alobtda—Shell whitish or colourless. Eltham in Kent (Choules), B.C. D. Whorls rounded, not keeled. 16,2, COR NEUS** LANNE Pia, Body shiny black or dark red above, greyish beneath; tentacles filiform, slender, rather opaque, of a dirty brown colour, slightly rounded at the tips, diverging considerably at their base; eyes rather small, round, black; foot opaque, blackish, with reddish margins, covered with small, round, * Horn-coloured. 46 LIMNAZIDZ. indistinct tubercles, narrow in front, and ending ina broad, blunt tail, which is keeled ; yaw consisting of three pieces. Shell concave above, rather less so beneath, thick, nearly. opaque, somewhat glossy, of a rufous or yellowish-brown colour, usually paler on the lower side, with close-set curved strize in the line of growth, as well as with finer spiral strize which are most apparent in the upper volutions ; efzdermzs thinnish; feriphery round, not keeled; whor/s 5-6, rounded, body whorl in breadth about one-third of the shell; suture deep; mouth slightly oblique, nearly round; outer lif slightly reflected; zzner Jif continuous with the other and broadly spread over the base of the penultimate whorl ; z7zdz/zcws wide but shallow. Inhabits slow streams, ponds, and ditches, but it is local. It is very much larger than any of the other British Planorbes, and is inactive and extremely irri- table, pouring forth a copious stream of red-coloured liquid when provoked. It crawls with a jerking sort of movement, and is fond of floating on the surface of the water. The capsules, usually two or three in number, are of an oval or roundish form, and colourless, or much more rarely ofa pale pink colour; in each of them from twelve to forty eggs are deposited, and the fry are hatched after a lapse of fifteen or sixteen days. The shell of this species during the early stages of its growth is covered with a downy epidermis. Var. albina.—Shell white. Occurs in Surrey, &.C. Near Henley-on-Thames, and Clevedon, Somerset (Rich). {tae CONTOR'TUS,” “LINNE. Pr. TV: Body blackish, faintly tinged with red above, pale dirty reddish-brown beneath; ¢eztacles very slender, not very trans- parent, dirty brown, considerably diverging at their base; foot * Twisted. PLANORBIS. 47 broad, rounded in front, tapering gradually behind, and ending in an obtuse tail. Shell flattish above with a depression in the middle, extremely concave beneath, thickish, brownish horn-colour, with fine, close- set strice in the line of growth; epzdermis thickish ; periphery rounded; whorls 8, remarkably compact, considerably com- pressed, angulated above, less so beneath; suture deep; mouth crescent-shaped, often furnished with a rib internally; outer lip very slightly produced, not reflected; zzzer /7p thinly spread over the base of the penultimate whorl, not continuous ; wmzdzlicus broad, deep. Inhabits lakes, ponds, and ditches, on aquatic plants in most parts of Great Britain. It is, however, rather local. It is a sluggish and irritable little creature, shrinking from the slightest touch, and it frequently floats in an inverted position on the under surface of the water. Thecapsules of this species vary from five to nine in number, each of them contains six to eight eggs, and the fry are excluded in about ten or twelve days. Var. albida.—“ Shell nearly white.” Found by Gwyn Jeffreys in a lake near Lerwick. ‘ Weston-super-Mare” (Rich). P. DILATA‘TUS, GOULD (7. deus, Lea): This American species was first noticed in this country by Mr. Thomas Rogers, of Manchester, in 1869. There is every reason to believe that it came across the Atlantic in cotton bales. Mr. Rogers first found it in the Bolton Canal at Pendleton, close to the refuse and warm water discharges from a cotton mill, and afterwards in a similar situation in the canal at Gorton. He sent specimens to Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys, who, in a communication to the ‘Annals and Magazine 48 LIMNAIDE. of Natural History’ for November, 1869, gave the following description of it :— “The shell is about the same size as P. nxautileus, which may be considered its nearest ally ; but it has one whorl less, the periphery is angulated, the under side is remarkably gibbous, the mouth is very large, squarish, and scarcely oblique, the outer lip is ex- panded (‘so as to make it trumpet-shaped ’—Gould), and the umbilicus is abruptly contracted, small, and deep. Some of the Manchester specimens are more or less distinctly though microscopically striated in the direction of the spire. The following is a de- scription of the animal or soft parts :— “ Body dark grey, often with a slight orange tint, closely and minutely speckled with flake-white; szant/e thick, lining the mouth of the shell; “ead large and tumid; south furnished with broad lobular lips; ¢eztacles cylindrical and extensile, widely diverging, broad and triangular at the base; the sheath or outer part is gelatinous, and the core or inner part is of a much darker colour and apparently greater consistence; tips rounded ; eyes sessile on the inner base of the tentacles ; foot oblong, squarish in front and bluntly pointed behind; verge curved, on the left-hand or umbilical side of the shell. The spawn is arranged in an irregular mass containing about a dozen membranous capsules, each of which has a yellowish yolk or vitellus in the centre. “Tt is active, and occasionally creeps, like many other aquatic Gastropods, on the under surface of the water, with its shell downwards.” In the ‘Quarterly Journal of Conchology’ for August 1875 there is an extract from a paper read by Mr. Rogers in 1870 before the Natural History Section of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, upon the introduction of this species, in which he “ said PHYSA. 49 that since the year 1869 (when the mollusc was found in small quantity) it had increased its area of distribution and multiplied so much as to be likely to become one of the commonest of our local shells.” GENUS II—PHY'SA,* LAMARCK. Body oblong, spiral; ¢eztacles long, rather slender; foot elongated, roundish-oval in front, pointed behind, attached to the body by a broad, short pedicle ; aw single. slightly arched. Shell oblong or oval, very thin, transparent ; sfzre more or less produced, sinistral. This genus seems to form a connecting link between Planorbis and Limunea, partaking of some of the cha- racters of each, but differing from both in the form of the shell, which is sinistral. The Physe@ innabit clear water ; they arefgregarious and herbivorous. Their eggs, which are oval and of a glassy texture, are incased in gelatinous capsules or coverings, which are cemented to stones and other substances under water. There are only two species in Great Britain. A. Mantle simple, not covering the shell ; shel covered with an epidermis ; sfzre long. | I. PHYSA HYPNO'RUM,; LINNE. PL. IV. Body dark grey or brown, sometimes slaty-black, of a texture resembling velvet, covered with exceedingly small blackish specks ; dextacles long, slender, much pointed, grey more or less deep in colour; eyes somewhat indistinct, very small, black; foot oblong, lanceolate, narrow, and obtuse in front, ending behind in an oval, depressed, and somewhat pointed tail, which is of a paler colour than the rest of the body, and more distinctly spotted with grey or black. Shell spindle-shaped, thin, semitransparent, very glossy, * A bladder. + Living in Hyfuum, one of the genera of mosses. E 50 LIMNEIDE. ochreous-brown, slightly striate in the line of growth, and in- distinctly so, spirally; efzdermis extremely thin; whorls 5-7, rounded, and somewhat compressed laterally, body whorl larger than the rest of the shell ; sfzve produced, obtuse at the tip ; swdure rather shallow; mouth narrowish oval, acutely angular above, rounded beneath ; outer lip thin; zuner lip spread on the base of the penultimate whorl; Zzddar with a broad fold. Inhabits sluggish streams, ponds, and ditches, on aquatic plants, in most parts of the British Isles, but itis local. It is rather an active mollusc, often leaving its native element to crawl upon those leaves and stems of surrounding plants which are not sub- merged; at other times it floats in an inverted position on the under surface of the water. The eggs, which are oval, are deposited in gelatinous masses, each of which contains from eight to twenty. The young are hatched in about fifteen or sixteen days, and have a small obtuse shell; they arrive at maturity in two years. B. Mantle lobed ; shell not covered with an epidermis ; sfzre short. 2. FONTINA 115," “LINNE: ~ Pia. Body rather transparent, greyish or slaty-grey, sometimes slightly tinged with either a violet or faintly greenish hue; mantle with two lobes, one of which is split into six and the other into nine finger-like lobes, or divisions, which, when expanded, lap over the shell; ¢exfacles rather slender, slightly transparent, ash-colour; eyes moderately large, black ; foot pale grey, rounded in front, ending in a narrow tail. Shell ovate, very thin, fragile, glossy, transparent, pale greyish * Inhabiting fountains. PHYSA. SI horn-colour, with a faint greenish or yellowish tint, with faintish striz in the line of growth, occasionally marked with rather stronger ridges in the same direction, and very in- distinctly striate spirally ; whor/s 4-5, tumid, body whorl much larger than the rest of the shell; sfzve short, apex obtuse; suture deepish ; mouth oblong, large, somewhat contracted, and acutely angular above, rounded below; outer lip very thin ; znner lip widely spread over the base of the penultimate whorl ; pillar with a slender fold. Inhabits slow rivers, brooks, ponds, and ditches on aquatic plants, particularly watercress, all over Great Britain, and is common. This is a more than usually active mollusc ; it jerks itself from place to place along the water ina manner which it is amusing to witness. Gwyn Jeffreys says: “The jerking motion which this animal has is said to be owing to its being infested by a small kind of parasitic worm, which causes it some un- easiness. I should rather be inclined to attribute this motion to the length and narrowness of the foot, which has to support a comparatively bulky shell.” —B.C., vol. i. p. 99. I have before me now a glass vase, in which are several kinds of aquatic molluscs, which I have placed there for the purpose of ob- serving their habits. They are all more or less infested by parasites, which do not appear to cause them much, if any, annoyance. Among them there are several specimens of Planorbis corneus, whose bodies, more especially about the head, are literally swarming with vermiform parasites, that wriggle about in a manner one would suppose to be anything but comforting to their victims, which seem, however, totally unconcerned, and slowly creep round the E 2 52 LIMNEIDA. vessel, devouring with evident relish the confervoid growth that adheres to the glass. The jerking manner in which P. fontinals and P. hypnorum are in the habit of disporting themselves is doubtless owing to the fact that they spin “mol- luscan threads,” like those of the Spheriide, and when suspended in mid-water by these invisible cables, twist themselves about and perform all manner of antics, sometimes in sport and sometimes in angry combat with one another. Nor is the capability of thread-spinning confined to the Spheriude and Phys@ ; many other molluscs employ the same means of locomotion. It is well known that Bythinza tentaculata, many, if not all, of the Lzmnaid@, and several of the slugs are thread-spinners ; but they do not all possess, this faculty to the same extent. Some species avail themselves of it more frequently than others, and some more frequently in the young than in the adult state. In the ‘Quarterly Journal of Conchology’ for November, 1878, there is a most in- teresting paper on “ Molluscan Threads,” by Mr. Sherriff Tye, who had read it before the Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical Society. The following is a brief extract from it :— “Physa hypnorum.—As before stated, I have had the young of this species creeping up and down per- manent threads for eighteen or twenty days together. In one case I saw three Phys@e and a Limnea glabra upon a thread of the former at one time. Often when two Phys@ meet upon the same thread they fight as only molluscs of this genus can, and the manceuvres they go through upon their fairy ladders outdo the LIMNAEA. 53 cleverest human gymnast that ever performed. I once saw one ascending, and when it was half-way up the thread it was overtaken by another; then came the ‘tug of war. [Each tried to shake the other off by repeated blows and jerks of its shell, at the same time creeping over each other’s shell and body in the most excited manner. Neither being able to gain the mastery, one began to descend, fol- lowed by the other, which overtook it, reaching the bottom first. Yet they are not always bent upon war, but pass and repass each other in an amicable spirit.” The gelatinous capsules of P. fontinals contain from five to twenty eggs. The fry are excluded at the end of about twenty days. Var. 1. zuflata.—Shell half as large again as the usual size ; whorls angular towards the suture, the middle one rather more prominent than the penultimate whorl, causing the summit of the spire to appear abruptly terminated. Dublin (Humphreys and Warren), &.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), F.C. Var. 2. curta.—Spire extremely short. Clonoony Barracks, Ireland (Brown), Bramerton, Norfolk (J. G. J.), B.C. Perth- shire (Buchanan White), S. /V., vol. ii. p. 207. Var. 3. eblonga.—Spire considerably produced. Anglesea (J. de C. Sowerby), Naas, Ireland (Humphreys), B.C. River Went, Yorkshire (J. Hebden), near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), F.C. Var. 4. albina.—Shell of a milk-white colour. Birkenhead (Webster), B.C. GENUS II.—LIMN'A* (LVMNEA), BRUGUIERE. Body longish, spiral; mazz¢le entire ; ¢entacles flattish, sub- triangular, short ; foot strongly notched in front, obtuse behind, * Inhabiting marshy places. 54 LIMNEIDA. attached to the body by a pedicle ; respiratory orifice on the right side ; generative orifices also on the right side, apart from each other, that which serves for the male functions being placed behind, and that for those of the female in front, at the base of the neck, near the respiratory orifice ; aw with three pieces, smooth, upper one usually slighly beaked; /zmgual ribbon usually as in LZ. stagualzs. Shell conic-ovate, more or less elongated ; sfzve dextral. The animals which belong to this genus are gre- garious; they inhabit sluggish waters, and are ex- tremely prolific. The apex of their shell is frequently eroded, and sometimes the upper volutions are alto- gether wanting. This is mainly caused by the animal retiring downwards, as its body increases in size, into the larger portion of the shell, the upper whorls being thus left untenanted, so that after a time, like a deserted house, they crumble away. I cannot help thinking, however, that the process of demolition is often aided by the ravages of individuals of the same, or even of other species, when the water they inhabit chances to be deficient in carbonate of lime. This erosion is by no means the rule, but rather the exception, and it does not occur, to the same extent at least, in all situations, and I have frequently observed these molluscs engaged in what seemed suspiciously like the act of purloining “ building materials” from the apex of their neighbours’ shells. It would be interesting if conchologists in different parts of the country would take the trouble to analyze the water from those localities where the molluscs are liable to erosion. Gwyn Jeffreys, in his remarks respecting the members of this genus, says: “ Their mode of propagation is very singular, three or more individuals LIMNAZA. 55 being united in a chain for that purpose. Leach has remarked that, in consequence of the sexual parts being distant from each other, one individual is able at the same time to perform the function of each sex with two others, as was first observed by Geoffroy about the middle of the last century. The spawn resembles that of the last genus.” — B.C, vol. i. p. 101. A. Shell very thin and brittle, nearly covered by a contractile expansion of the border of the mantle ; spfzve very short. I. EIMNALA GLUTINO'SA,* MULLER. PUL. V- Body large, glutinous, of a dark grey or greenish colour tinged with yellow, and covered with golden-yellow specks ; tentacles very short, sub-triangular, light greenish-yellow veined with grey, and spotted with white; eyes situated at the inner base of the tentacles on small knob-like stalks ; foot extremely large, speckled with white, broad and obtusely rounded in front, and ending in a blunt tail. Shell globosely ovate, remarkably thin, very glossy, transparent, pale amber or greyish horn-colour, often indistinctly banded with a darker shade of the same colour, with remote, irregular strie in the line of growth, and very faintly but closely striate spirally ; epzdermzs very thin ; whorls 3-4, globular, body whorl occupying the greater part of the shell ; sfzre slightly produced ; suture deepish ; mouth nearly oval, slightly contracted above ; outer lip extremely thin ; zzzer zp broadly spread on the base of the penultimate whorl ; fo/d (on the pillar) curved, sharp. Inhabits ponds and ditches, chiefly in the home and eastern counties; it has also been noticed in the following localities:—-Near Dunster Castle, Somerset- shire (Leach), Bala Lake (Gibbs), near Windermere (Bulwer), 5.C. Near Henley-on-Thames (Rich). * Glutinous. 56 LIMNAIDE. This local species sometimes disappears mysteri- ously from localities in which it has been known to exist, reappearing however after a time as plentifully as before. This curious phenomenon has not been satisfactorily accounted for. It is scarcely probable that the animal actually leaves its habitat ; perhaps for some reason it buries itself for a lengthened period in the mud, and thus escapes observation. Moquin- Tandon says that it is a lively animal, being usually on the move, and that it greedily devours the thread- like and tender roots of some of the aquatic plants. The capsules are colourless and transparent, and contain from thirty to forty eggs. The shell of the young is completely covered by the expansion of the mantle. Var. mucronata.—Shell not quite so globular; sfzve more produced. B. Shell not covered externally by the mantle ; spire usually produced. 2: LL, INVOLUTA* THOMPSON, “PLAX; “Body dark yellowish-brown, more or less speckled closely and irregularly with flake-white at the sides of the head, tentacles, and foot ; mantle wholly enclosed within the shell, which it lines, a space being usually left between it and the mouth ; no part of the mantle is outside the shell either when the animal is crawling or not, its edges are somewhat thickened ; “ead very large, broad, and semicircular ; south placed below the head-disc and in the middle of it, and extended sideways ;.it is armed with a pair of jaws which are disposed transversely ; ¢ev¢acles large and tri- angular, with blunt tips ; eyes small, black, seated on the inner base of the tentacles ; foot lanceolate (lance-head shaped), or * Rolled inwards (in allusion to the sunken spire). LIMNEA. 37 like a flint implement of that type, broader and rounded in front, and narrowing behind to a blunt point.”—Gwyn Jeffreys. Shell oval, thin, fragile, moderately glossy, almost transparent, of a pale amber or horn-colour, with numerous close-set, irregular striz in the line of growth, which are more strongly defined near the suture; epidermis thin; whorls 3-4, convex, body whorl occupying by far the greater portion of the shell ; sfzve sunken, apex slightly raised ; swzture distinct but shallow ; south large, pear-shaped ; outer /7p thin, slightly reflected ; zzner lzp broadly spread on the penultimate whorl ; fo/d sharp, narrow. Inhabits a small lake on the Cromaglaun Mountain near Killarney. It has not been found in any other locality. In the meagre accounts hitherto given of the animal of this singular and beautiful species, the mantle has been erroneously described as covering the exterior of the shell, as in L. glutinosa. | Since the publication of his ‘British Conchology,’ my esteemed friend Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys has had an opportunity of examining living specimens of JL. involuta, and has most kindly furnished me with the above accurate description of the animal, from which it will be seen that no part of the exterior of the shell is at any time covered by the mantle; I have there- fore placed this species in Section B. This mollusc may possibly prove to be a oe of L. peregra, to which it is, in my opinion, as closely allied as are the varieties /acustris and Burnetti of that species. Its habitat is similar to that of these varieties, and the peculiar form of the three shells is probably owing tothe sub-alpine position of the lakes they inhabit. This species, according to some writers, occurs in a small stream by which the Cromaglaun Lake is fed, as 58 LIMNAIDEA. well as in the lake itself ; but my friend Dr. Laver, of Colchester, who has visited the spot, informs me that “there is no stream running into the tarn, and the small overflow is lost in the boggy soil, and gradually drains over the face of the precipice.” 3. Ly. PEREGRA,* MULLER. PE. V: Body grey or very pale brown with a greenish tinge, in- distinctly but closely spotted with black, and powdered less thickly with larger specks of a yellowish-grey colour; ¢eztacles flattish, widely diverging, triangular, very broad at the base, and tapering to a point in front, placed at nearly a right angle with the sides of the animal, spotted with greyish-yellow ; eyes rather large, nearly round, black ; foot pale greenish-brown, somewhat truncated in front, rounded behind. Shell obliquely ovate, thin, fragile, rather glossy, somewhat transparent, yellowish horn-colour, with irregular striz in the line of growth, and faintly striate spirally, as well as sometimes ridged in the same direction ; efzdermzs thin ; whorls 5, convex, body whorl tumid, occupying about three-quarters of the length of the shell ; sAzre produced, apex sharply pointed ; #zouth oval, large, very slightly contracted above; outer lip thin, somewhat reflected ; zzner lip broadly reflected and thickened on the pillar, and forming a very small umbilical chink ; fo/d large, curved. Inhabits sluggish streams, ponds, and ditches in every part of Great Britain. It is an exceedingly abundant species ; the size, form, and colour of the shell are very variable, being materially affected by the properties, temperature, and situation of the water it inhabits. It is tolerably active, often leaving the water to climb upon the stems and leaves of sur- rounding plants, and it frequently wanders away to a * Wanderer. LIMNAA. 59 considerable distance from its usual place of abode. Gwyn Jeffreys says: “A writer in the ‘Zoologist’ lately stated (p. 7400) that it ate minnows when they were confined together in an aquarium. I have seen these pond-snails attack and devour their own brothers and sisters under the same circumstances when they had no other supply of food; and this was done by piercing the spire of the shell near its point, which was thinner and somewhat eroded by the action of the water.” —B.C,, vol. i. p. 107. This species is exceed- ingly prolific ; a single individual has been known to lay 1300 eggs during the breeding season. Var. 1. Burnettii—Body a little broader than that of the typical form, dark olive, spotted with opaque yellow; mantle nearly black with a few paler spots. Shell rather globular and solid, of a dull aspect, yellowish-brown ; closely and strongly striate in the line of growth; efzdermzis rather thick; the last whorl nearly covering all the others; sfzre exceedingly short, nearly truncate, and almost intorted. Loch Skene, Dumfries- shire (Burnett), Breconshire (Moggridge). In the stomach of a gillaroo trout caught in a lake in Co. Tipperary (Walker), TG: Var. 2. /acustris—Body of a darker colour than usual. Shell resembling that of the last variety, but it is much smaller and more glossy, and has strong and regular transverse grooves, and the spire is not quite so short nor inclined to be intorted. The shell is often eroded. Mountain lakes in Zetland, Scotland, Ireland, and the North of England, 2.C. I found a smaller form of this variety in the River Clouden, near Dumfries. Var. 3. Zuwtea.—Shell remarkably solid, having a very short spire of from 3 to 4 whorls. South Devon (Montague), South Wales (J. G.J.), thrown up by the tide at the mouths of rivers, B.C. Var. 4. ovata.—Body of a paler colour. Shell ampullaceous and rather thinner than usual; whor/s exceedingly convex, the last being larger in proportion to the rest; sfzre very short; 60 LIMNAVIDEA. suture deep; mouth very large. Lakes, ponds, and canals, attaining sometimes a considerable size, B.C. Var. 5. acuminata,—Shell resembling the last variety in all respects, except in having a more produced spire and a smaller mouth. With the last, B.C. Var. 6. zatermedia.—Shell rather compressed towards the front margin, and thinner than usual; sfzve more produced; mouth expanded. Ponds, B.C. Var. 7. oblonga.—Shell oblong and compressed in front. Lewes, Suffolk, Church Stretton, Salop, Bearhaven, Co. Cork (Jj. G. J.), B.C. Marsh at Hamstead, near Birmingham (G,. Shemitt Dye), 7.C. Var. 8. dabiosa.—Shell smaller, having the outer lip remark- ably expanded and reflected. Appin, Argyleshire (Bedford), 4.C. Sutton Park, near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), 7.C. Var. 9. Pzcta.—Shell rather smaller than the last, and beauti- fully marked by alternate bands of brown and white, which are sometimes confluent. Ulva, I. Hebrides (Bedford), B.C. Var. 10. maritima.—Shell dwarfed, rather solid; sfzre pro- duced; suture deep. Marshes on the sea-coasts of Glamorgan- shire and North Devon (J. G. J.), B.C. Var. 11. succineeformis.—Shell shaped like a Succinea, and very thin; whorls 4; spire small and oblique. Kensal Green enG: J), 0G Var..12. albtda.—Shell of a very clear white colour. Near Askern, Yorkshire (Lister Peace), $.C. The following monstrosities also occur :— Monst. 1.—decollata.—Shell more or less eroded; sfzre trun- cate. Church Stretton, Oxwich, near Swansea (J. G. J.), B.C. Several localities near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), F.C. Warwickshire (McMutrtrie). Monst. 2.—sznzstrorsa.—Shell spzre reversed, rather solid, spiral ridges distinct. Scarborough (Bean), pond near Balta, a single specimen (Waller), 2.C. Monst. 3.—scalarzformis.—Shell oblong, with deep and regular strize ; whorls more or less disjointed, suture consequently deep. Warminster (J. G. J.), B.C. Sutton-Coldfield near Birming- ham (G. Sherriff Tye), ¥.C. Warwickshire (McMurtrie). LIMNAZA. 61 4. Li AURICULARIA,* LINNES ELLY: Body of a pale brownish-grey, with a faint tinge of green, thickly covered with minute black and milk-white specks, the latter being rather larger and less numerous ; ¢ev¢ac/es triangular, flattish, placed widely apart, and at nearly a right angle with the sides of the animal, very broad at their base, gradually narrowing towards, and pointed at the tip, rather transparent, pale greenish-grey, and finely powdered with a line of yellowish- grey specks along the margins ; eyes moderately large, roundish, black; foot obtusely rounded in front and behind, keeled, and margined with a narrow yellow band. Shell globosely ovate, thin, glossy, transparent, of a pale amber-colour, with strongish irregular striz in the line of growth, as well as with intermediate rows of very fine, close-set lines, and somewhat indistinctly ridged spirally; efzdermzs thin; whorls 4-5, very tumid, body whorl occupying by far the greater portion of the shell; sfzve very small, apex sharply pointed ; suture strongly defined ; mouth very large, roundish, oval, inner side slightly contracted and somewhat truncated ; outer lip very thin, reflected ; zzxer /zH somewhat thickened, and forming a rather small umbilical chink or hollow; fold considerably curved, sharp. Inhabits slow rivers, lakes, ponds, and canals in many parts of England, but it is not a common species. It has been found “in a ditch at Clonooney, King’s County, Ireland,” Brown’s ‘Illustrations of Recent Conchology,’ p. 29. In Scotland it has been observed “in Abercorn Park,” Forbes and Hanley, vol. iv. p. 171; and “in Monkland Canal (Dougall),” ‘Trans. Glasgow Natural History Society,’ vol. i. p. 192. This is a sluggish mollusc; it usually remains at or near the bottom of the water, but sometimes it floats idly on the surface ; when crawling it carries * Ear-shaped. 62 LIMNAIDE. its shell in a horizontal position. It breeds during the months of July and August; the capsules are of a tubular form, somewhat compressed, and more or less curved or bent like a bow. Each of them contains from fifty to sixty eggs, and the fry are excluded in about fifteen days. Var 1. acuta.—Body of a greyish colour and closely covered with black spots. Shell smaller than the typical form, more oblong, and having the last whorl and mouth proportionably narrower. Marshes on the sea-coast of Glamorganshire, Church Stretton, Salop, Kent, Co. Tyrone (J. G. J.), Yoxford, Suffolk (Barlee), B.C. Var. 2. albida.—Shell smaller and thinner, white, with a shorter spire and less distinct strie. Bath (Clark), Blenheim Lake (Mrs. Richard Smith), B.C. cs. L, STAGNALIS,* LINNE. PL. V, Body yellowish-grey, with a faint tinge of green, mottled with minute brown and milk-white specks; ¢eztac/es flattish, in form of an elongated triangle, pointed at their tips, rather transparent, greenish-grey, powdered with distinct milk-white spots; foot broad, faintly dotted with brown, margined with a narrow line of yellow, convex and keeled behind; “gual rzbbon with 110 rows of I11 teeth=12,210, central tooth minute, laterals large, with two points, the outer one being the smaller, Shell ovate - oblong, moderately thick, semitransparent, greyish or yellowish horn-colour, with strong irregular strize in the line of growth, as well as with numerous intermediate rows of slender but sharply defined curved striz which are more apparent on the upper volutions, and indistinctly ridged spirally ; epidermis rather thin; whorls 6-8, convex, but somewhat angulated by the ridges, body whorl much larger, and more tumid than the others; sfzre elongated, tapering to an acute point ; swture deepish, with a narrow white line on its margin; mouth nearly oval; outer (7p rather thin, somewhat reflected in * Living in stagnant pools. LIMNAA. 63 full-grown specimens ; zzzer (zp broadly and thickly spread on the base of the penultimate whorl; fo/d strong and very much curved. Inhabits sluggish streams and stagnant water throughout Great Britain. In form this is one of the most elegant of our freshwater shells. It is an in- dolent species, and adheres very firmly to the objects to which it has attached itself. It frequently floats on the surface of the water. Owing to the sluggish nature of this species its shell is very frequently incrusted with a mineral or vegetable deposit. The eggs, which vary in number from forty to one hundred and twenty, are deposited in oblong or roundish cap- sules, and the fry are excluded in from twenty to thirty days. The young shell is extremely slender and fragile, and strongly resembles the variety fra- gilts. In the ‘Quarterly Journal of Conchology,’ May, 1877, p. 216, Mr. W. Nelson remarks, “This species has the power (occasionally at any rate), when irritated, of discharging a pale violet-coloured liquid. Having observed many times that in scalding the animal of this species, previous to cleaning out the shells, the water was tinged with violet, I was led to pay particular attention to them in the living state, and found that they discharged this coloured liquid sometimes at once upon being lifted out of the pond, but more often if irritated.” Var. 1. fragzlis.—Shell smaller, more fragile, slender, and tapering. Kennet and Avon Junction Canal, Wilts, Surrey and Croydon Canal, River Cam at Cambridge, Grand Canal, Dublin, B.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), near Wakefield (J. Hebden), 7.C. Near Colchester (Laver). Var. 2, albzda.—Shell white. Grand Canal, Dublin, 2.C. 64 LIMNATIDA. Var. 3. Zabzata.—Shell dwarfed and more solid, with the outer lip much reflected and thickened. Lough Neagh, Ireland (Moggridge), B.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), 7.C. Monst. szzzstrorsa.—Spire reversed. Kenn Moor, Somerset (Norman), B.C. C. Shell elongated ; sfzve considerably produced. 6.)L. "PALUS This, (MULCER,/ dP ae Body rather opaque, of a dark slaty-grey or deep violet-colour above, greenish-grey beneath, closely mottled with indistinct blackish and yellowish spots; ¢ezfacles conical, slightly curved, somewhat pointed at the tips, of a brownish colour which is paler at the extremities; eyes oval, black, seated on small round tubercles; foot oblong, slightly notched, and truncate in front, rounded and faintly keeled behind. Shell oblong-conic, thick, opaque, of a dull brownish horn- colour, with occasionally a violet tinge; with strong irregular striz in the line of growth, the spaces between them filled in with rows of close-set finer lines, rather strongly ridged spirally, especially on the last two volutions; efzdermzs thin; whorls 6-7, rather convex, but angulated by the ridges, body whorl occupying about two-thirds of the length of the shell; sfzre considerably produced, and ending in an acute apex; suture deepish, usually encircled by a slender white line; mouth nearly oval; outer lif thickish, very little reflected; zzuer lip spread on the base of the penultimate whorl ; fo/d strong and sharp. Inhabits marshy places, slow streams, and stagnant water throughout Great Britain. It is a sluggish and irritable creature, and very voracious; it frequently leaves the water. The eggs vary from fifty to ninety in number, and are deposited in capsules which in form resemble a depressed or flattened cylinder. Var. 1. Corvus.—Shell larger, more tumid, purplish-brown. Suffolk (Barlee), 4.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), Fe * Living in marshes. LIMNEA. 65 Var. 2. elongata.—Spire elongated. Falmouth (J. G. J.), B.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), near Wakefield (jz Hebden), 7:C. Var. 3. ¢incta.—Shell shorter and broader, light brown, with a purplish mouth. It resembles a Bulzmus in form. Swansea and Dorsetshire (J. G. J.), Anglesea (Gibbs), &2.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), near Wakefield (J. Hebden), yee Var. 4. conica.—Shell conic, greyish-white, with a deep suture and an umbilical cleft. Banks of the Thames from Hammer- smith to Woolwich (J. G. J.), Cork (Humphreys), &.C. Yatton, Somerset (Mc Mutrtrie). Var. 5. voseo-labiata.—Mouth of the shell furnished inside with a rose-coloured or white rib. Belfast (Thompson), Cork (Humphreys), &.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), 7.C. Duddingston, Edinburgh, Luffness Links, E. Lothian, and near Moffat (McMurtrie). Var. 6. albtda.—Shell white. Near Leeds, a single speci- men (Jj. W. Taylor), 7.C.,. May, 1874. Near Sautipore (E. Collier). Monst. decollata.—Spire truncated, not uncommon. 7 i. BRUNCA TULA,* MULLER: “PE Body rather opaque, blackish-brown above, pale slate-colour below, finely speckled with black ; zewtacles broadish at the base, narrower towards the tips, which are rounded, rather transparent, pale grey with very fine black specks; eyes almost sessile ; food somewhat truncate in front, narrowing very gradually behind where it is rounded. Shell oblong-conic, turreted, moderately thick, rather glossy, yellowish horn-colour, rather strongly striate in the line of growth, and with finer, close-set, intermediate striz, and ridged spirally as in the last species; epidermis thin; whorls 5-6, rounded, but somewhat truncate above, body whorl occupying more than one-half of the length of the shell; sfzve tapering * Somewhat truncated. 66 LIMNALIDE. somewhat abruptly, apex rather acute; su¢ure very deep ; mouth nearly oval; outer lip sharp; zaner lip continuous with the other, spread on the base of the penultimate whorl; wmdzlical cleft distinct ; fo/d moderately thick. Inhabits marshes, muddy streams, and ditches, as well as rocks by the side of waterfalls, in every part of Great Britain. This little mollusc varies consider- ably in size and colour according to the nature and position of the localities in which it occurs. It not only lives in marshy and low-lying places but is equally abundant in mountainous districts, and it appears to be as much at home on land as it is in the water. It lays from twelve to twenty eggs, and the capsules which contain them are usually deposited on the mud. Var. 1. major.—Shell larger; whorls more swollen, body whorl much larger than usual. Penzance (Millet and Barlee), Newton Nottage, Glamorganshire (J. G. J.), B.C. Near Bir- mingham (G. Sherriff Tye), F.C. Var. 2. edegans.—Shell much larger, more solid, and slender, greyish-white, marked with coarse spiral ridges; sfzre much produced ; suture oblique; outer (7p thickened. UHants, B.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), near Wakefield (J. Hebden), 7 .C. Var. 3. mznor.—Shell much smaller, thinner, and semi- transparent, dark horn-colour, marked with stronger and closer longitudinal striz. Mountainous tracts and sea-side marshes B.C. Var. 4. albtda.—Shell smaller, milk-white. Battersea (J. G. J.), Crymlyn Burrows, Swansea (Moggridge), B.C. Var. 5. microstoma.—Shell smaller and narrower; whorls more swollen; south contracted. Southampton (J. G. J.), BL, Monst. scalariformis.—Shell smaller; whorls nearly dis- united. Warminster (J. G. J.), B.C. LYMNAA. 67 &. bs 6LABRA MULEERF ee. Vv. Body rather opaque, dark slaty-grey above, somewhat paler below, finely spotted with black ; ¢ezfacles curved, broad at their base, somewhat pointed at the tips, rather transparent, pale grey ; eyes situated on prominent tubercles, round, black ; foot truncate in front, rounded behind. Shell elongated, cylindrical, gradually tapering, thinnish, rather glossy, greyish or brownish horn-colour; sculpture similar to, but somewhat fainter than that of the last species ; whor/s 7-8, rounded, not very tumid, body whorl scarcely half the length of the shell; sfzve produced, tapering to a moderately fine point ; zouth oblong-ovate, acutely contracted above, with a broadish, white internal rib, which is slightly removed from the margin ; outer @zp thin, very slightly reflected; zuner lip thickish, spread on the base of the penultimate whorl; /o/d sharp ; wmbzlical cleft very minute. Inhabits ditches and ponds in many of the English counties, as well as in some parts of Ireland. In Scotland it has been found near Perth (Buchanan White), S.W., vol. i. p. 26, Frankfield Loch@aiear Glasgow (Dougall), ‘ Trans. Glasgow Nat. Hist. Soc.,’ wol ip. 192; but it is a local species: Tiieeiggam inactive and very timid creature, and as it rarely floats on the surface of the water, must be searched for by scraping with the spoon or net along the sides and bottom of the ponds or ditches where it lives. The eggs, in number from fifteen to thirty, are enclosed in a transparent, oblong capsule, which is attached to stones, the stems and leaves of aquatic plants, and sometimes even to the shells of other species. Var. elongata.— Spire considerably more produced. Near Wakefield, common (J. Hebden), near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), .C. Near Colchester (R. R.). * Smooth, 68 LIMNAIDA. GENUS IV.—AN'CYLUS,* GEOFFROY. Body more or less oval, conical, flattened beneath ; ¢emtacles subcylindrical, short ; respiratory orifice in the form of a short tube ; foot oval, rather shorter than the body, to which it is attached by a rudimentary pedicle or stalk. Shell cowl-shaped ; sf#zve rudimentary, dextral, or sinistral. The animals which belong to this genus usually inhabit clear water, attaching themselves to stones or the leaves and stems of aquatic plants. They crawl along in a very leisurely manner, twisting their shell slowly from side to side as they advance. In Gray’s edition of Turton’s ‘Manual’ (1840, p. 248) it is stated that “these animals sometimes swim about on the surface of the water like Limnzi, with their backs downwards.” Moquin-Tandon, Gwyn Jeffreys, and other writers affirm, however, that they do not float, nor have I ever observed them in a floating position. They feed upon Conferve and other water plants, and upon decomposing vegetable substances. Their stomach is often filled, like the gizzard of a fowl, with minute particles of fine gravel or sand, which are doubtless of service to the animal during the process of digestion. The capsules in which the eggs are deposited are attached to stones and other submerged objects. | In Tate’s ‘British Mollusks’ it is stated that the two species (by which this genus is represented in the British Isles) differ considerably from each other in their lingual dentition. In A. fluviatilis “the central tooth is minute, the lateral teeth, thirty-seven in * Curved or hooked (like the eagle’s beak). ANCYLUS. 69 number, have long recurved hooks, and are at first simple, but becoming ultimately narrowed and minutely toothed; there are 120 transverse rows.” In A. lacustris “the central part of each row is much arched, and composed of a central tooth with twelve similar laterals on each side, next to which is a tooth of a different form, and lastly, six more on each side, which latter are in a slight curve; the number of transverse rows is seventy-five ; the total number of BECEn 1S: 2925." A. Body sinistral ; she// dextral. tf, ANCYLUS FLUVIATILIS,*”» MULLER: “Pie Body more or less transparent, slaty-grey, finely spotted with black ; ¢en¢actes greyish-white, rather transparent, diverging, broad at their base, gradually narrowing to a bluntish tip ; eyes apparent, but small, round, black ; foot yellowish-brown, much expanded at the sides, rounded in front, convex and obtuse behind. Shell hood-shaped, moderately thin, of a dullish aspect, pale horn-colour with a yellowish or greenish tinge, with rather strong, regular striz, which radiate from the apex towards the margin of the aperture, and more finely striate in the line of growth ; epidermis thin; sfzre recurved or bent downwards towards the posterior margin, apex rather blunt and usually more or less twisted to the right ; mouth oval, margin mem- branous, scarcely reflected. Inhabits rivers, lakes, and ponds throughout the British Isles. ‘This little mollusc usually attaches itself, after the manner of the marine Limpets, to stones, rocks, wooden piles, or other submerged * Living in rivers. 70 LIMNEIDE. substances, to which it adheres very firmly; occa- sionally, but rarely, it may be seen on the under side of the leaves of aquatic plants, and sometimes it leaves the water altogether for a time and crawls up moist rocks or wooden piles. It lays about eighty eges during the breeding season; they are deposited in from seven to ten amber-coloured capsules, and the fry are excluded after the lapse of twenty-four to twenty-seven days. Var. 1. Capuloides—Shell larger and higher, with the beak not placed so near the posterior margin. Very rare (J. G. J.), B.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), near Wakefield (J. Hebden), ¥.C. I found a single specimen on the under side of a leaf of the water-lily in the River Colne near Colchester. Var. 2. gzbbosa.—Shell smaller, more swollen, with the beak reaching or overhanging the posterior margin. Sark, Os- mington Mills near Ringstead, Dorset, Dunboy near Bear- haven, Co, .Cork .(J/ 1G.-J.), ,8.C.; Near Leeds: (W- Welsen): Yorkshire, two localities (H. Crowther), 7.C. Var. 3. albzda.— Shell milk-white, and more finely striated. Various localities. In the ‘Annals and Magazine of Nat. Hist.’ for October 1876, Mr. E. Duprey, in a paper on some of the Mollusca of Jersey, makes the following remarks respecting A. fluviatilis: “More than once I have found young specimens of this slow animal adhering to an active flying water-beetle, the Aczlius sulcatus. Thus carried from one pond to another, it can be rapidly distributed throughout the country.” How truly admirable as well as endless are the means by which Nature provides for the distribution of her works! ANCYLUS. FI B. Body dextral ; ske// sinistral. 2. A. LACUS TRIS,” LINSH ere Ve Body greenish-yellow, finely spotted with black; ¢enxtacles widely separated, thick, rather transparent, whitish-grey, tips pointed ; eyes distinct, but not prominent, round, black ; foot greenish-yellow, truncate in front, rounded, and of a somewhat darker colour behind. Shell much more oblong in form than that of the last species, and thinner, rather glossy, horn-colour, faintly tinged with yellow or green ; strz@ as in A. fluviatilis, but they are finer and much less distinct ; efzdermzs rather thick ; sfzre ridged, apex acute, distinctly twisted to the left ; south oblong, marg7x membranous, somewhat reflected. Inhabits sluggish streams, lakes, and ponds, at- tached to the under side of the leaves of aquatic plants, especially those of the water-lily, in many parts of Great Britain, but it is much more local than A. fluviatilis. This species adheres less firmly than the last to the objects to which it attaches itself. It seldom moves from place to place, but when it does so it crawls somewhat rapidly. Moquin-Tandon says it is rather difficult to count the number of its eggs owing to their extreme transparency ; that they usually number from four to twelve, are of an oval form, and not crowded so closely together as those of the last species. The capsules in which they are enclosed are roundish, considerably compressed, transparent, and covered with numerous minute tubercles. The young are hatched in from twenty to twenty-six days. * Living in lakes. 72 LIMNAIDE. Var. 1. compressa.—Shell rather larger and considerably broader and flatter than usual. Dunstall, Staffordshire (J. G. J.), B.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), ¥.C. Colchester (Laver). Var. 2. alé¢da.—Shell milk-white with a light grey epidermis. Grand Canal, Dublin (Warren), 2.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sheri Tye), F.C. TERERESTREAE The terrestrial molluscs of Great Britain have now to be considered. Although the greater number live entirely on land, some of them are capable of remain- ing submerged for a considerable time. With respect to animals of a higher organism there is a true and common saying, that it is impossible to determine the point at which instinct ends and reason begins, and in the case of these humbler creatures of the Great Artificer’s hand, it is equally impossible to detect a single flaw or gap in the chain which unites them not only to one another, but to beings of a higher as well as of an inferior order, so deftly and so imperceptibly are its links graduated. The terrestrial molluscs, like the Lzmna@ide, belong to the second order (Pulmonobranchiata), and are com- prised in five families which for convenience’ sake may be divided into three sections. The first section con- tains three families, and the animals comprised in it resemble the Limneid@ in most respects, but their ten- tacles are vetractile instead of contractile. ‘The second section contains only one family, which has a still closer affinity to the Lzmna@ide, inasmuch as the ten- tacles of the animals which belong to it are contractile, and their eyes are placed at the base instead of on the tips of the tentacles. The third section consists of one 74 LIMACIDE. family ; its members differ from the rest of the Pul- monobranchs in having separate sexes and in their shell being operculate, in which respect they resemble the Pectinibranch . SECTION I. Tentacles retractile, usually four ; in some instances the lower pair are rudimentary, in others altogether wanting ; eyes situated on the tips of the upper tentacles or on those of the single pair when the lower ones are absent; se// in most cases external, complete, spiral; in others internal and shield-like, or rudi- mentary, consisting only of calcareous granules. Family JI. LIMACIDA. II. TESTACELLIDA. LEE) AELICIpA: SECTION. Tt: Tentacles 2 (with a rudimentary or imperfect lower pair), contractile ; eyes situated slightly behind the inner base of the upper tentacles ; she// spiral, elongated. Family IV. CARYCHIID. SECTION. OT. Tentacles 2, contractile, eyes situated at their outer base; shell spiral, oval or cylindrical, operculate ; operculum either testaceous or horny. Family V. CyYCLOSTOMATID/. FAMILY I.—LIMACIDZ. Body elongated, not spirally coiled ; #zaz¢/e.shield-like, cover- ing the upper part of the back; Jéezzacles 4, cylindrical, re- tractile, upper tentacles longer than the lower ones ; foot as long as the body and united to it; jaw arched, smooth or LIMACIDE:. 75 ribbed ; ¢zxzgual ribbon with numerous transverse rows of spinous teeth. Shell rudimentary, consisting of calcareous granules, or shield- like ; in either case covered by the mantle. This family comprises those molluscs popularly known as Slugs, whose bodies are unprovided with an external shell, though the vital parts are protected by a more or less rudimentary testaceous covering placed beneath the mantle. The slugs exude an abundance of slime which serves to lubricate the skin ; it is very tenacious and capable of being drawn out into a thread by which the animal is enabled to sus- pend itself from the branches of trees, or descend in safety from a considerable height to the ground. Most of the slugs, especially when young, seem to possess the faculty of thread-spinning. In his paper on ‘Molluscan Threads,’ from which an extract has already been made,* Mr. Sherriff Tye writes as fol- lows :—“ Mr. Wm. Harte (in ‘Proceedings Dublin N. H. Soc.,’ vol. iv. part ii.) has recorded some inter- esting experiments he made with Lzmax arborum, causing it to spin a thread and to reascend by it, and he believes that from the ‘perfect ease and regularity with which they do it, that they are well accus- tomed to it’ Mr. Harte also states that if the slug be ‘gorged with food’ the slime is thin and not so able to sustain it, but if kept overnight without food it performs well the next morning.” The Limacidz are extremely voracious ; their food chiefly consists of vegetable matter, but many of them devour animal matter also. A popular and very * Vide p. 52. 76 LIMACIDA. erroneous notion prevails that slugs are identical with snails, and that in summer they leave their shells and return to them for protection in winter. The body of the slug is naked and its shell internal (except in the case of Zestacella, which has a small external shell placed near the tail), whereas the body of the true snail is entirely or very nearly covered by the shell, to which it is permanently attached by muscles. GENUS I—ARION,* FERUSSAC. Body elongated, subcylindrical, skin coarsely wrinkled ; mantdle shagreened ; respiratory orifice situated towards the front or a little beyond the middle of the right edge of the mantle ; ~epro- ductive orifice below the respiratory orifice ; ¢az7 provided at its extremity with a s/zme gland, jaw arched, strongly ribbed. Shell consisting of loose calcareous granules, which are covered by the posterior portion of the mantle. Unless Férussac meant to be ironical, the name he gave to this genus is singularly inappropriate; the slugs, so far as is known, are not gifted with musical or poetic genius, nor are they steed-like in their move- ments ! The Arions, though commonly called black slugs, vary considerably in colour, especially when imma- ture ; they frequent moist and shady places in woods and hedgerows, as well as gardens where they are most destructive to fruit and vegetables; they also devour decomposing animal matter, and sometimes, when other food fails, their neighbours’ slime. When reposing they contract their bodies into a helmet- * The name of an ancient Grecian musician and poet, also of a fabulous horse said to have been produced by Neptune. ARION. VE shaped lump. They are very prolific, and usually deposit their eggs below the ground. I. ARION ATER,” LLINNE. Elvi Body very convex above, somewhat contracted and rounded in front, pointed behind, colour very variable, black, choco- late-brown, reddish, yellowish, greenish, or sometimes whitish, tubercles large and prominent ; #zanf¢le finely shagreened ; ¢en- zacles separated at their base, strongly granulated, bulbs consider- ably swollen ; foot sparsely covered with large angular tubercles, and margined with a band which is usually yellow with dark transverse lines ; s/zme yellowish. Length 3-5 inches. Shell consisting of disunited calcareous granules which are unequal in size and of a roundish or oval form, Inhabits woods, fields, hedgerows, gardens, and moist places, in all parts of the British Isles. It breeds in May and June; the eggs, which are oval and semitransparent, vary in number from fifteen to sixty, and are deposited in holes in the ground, at the roots of plants, under stones, or among decom- posing vegetable matter. This species, in common with other members of the family, is frequently infested with small parasites, which enter and take up their abode within the respi- ratory cavity, sallying forth from time to time for air and exercise upon the body of the slug, which seems to be in no way disturbed by the intrusion of the self- invited guests. 2. A. FLA'VUS,| MULLER. Body slender, smaller, but proportionally more capable of elongation than A. afer, of a grey colour, the sides and mantle sometimes tinged with yellow, head and neck slate-colour: or * Black. t Yellow. 78 LIMACIDE. dark grey ; mantle more oblong than in the last species, marked with minute white specks ; ¢zezfacles short, nearly smooth, lower pair very small; respiratory orifice near the centre of the mantle on its right margin ; ¢az/ angulated ; slzme gland pro- minent ; s/zme deep yellow. Inhabits moist places among dead leaves and other decomposing vegetable matter, and has a wide range in this country. It is said to be active and to crawl under water. 3, JASHIGORTEN S1S,* FPERUSSAC,; Pi..Mie Body much smaller and more slender than that of A. azer, varying in colour from black to brown, rufous, yellowish, grey, or greenish, usually striped or banded longitudinally, tubercles oblong, close-set, coarse; mantle usually with a dark band round its margins and down the middle; /eztacles slightly swollen at their tips ; foof with a narrow border of grey, yellow, orange, or rufous-colour ; s/z#e of a whitish or yellowish colour. Length, about an inch and a half. Shell consisting of granules which are cemented together in a somewhat oval-shaped mass. This slug is tolerably active. The breeding season extends from May till September; the eggs which are from fifty to seventy in number, are said by Bou- chard-Chantereaux to be phosphorescent for fifteen days after they are laid, and the young, which are excluded in from twenty to forty days, arrive at maturity towards the end of the first year. This species may be distinguished from A. ater by its much smaller size, by the longitudinal stripe with which it is usually marked, and by the testaceous granules being united instead of separate. * Inhabiting gardens. GEOMALACUS. 79 GENUS Il—GEOMAL'ACUS,* ALLMAN. Body elongated, lanceolate, not keeled ; mazzle shield-like, oval ; respiratory orifice on the right margin of the mantle, to- wards the front ; reproductive orifice behind the base of the right lower tentacle ; caudal slime-gland large. Shell solid, suboval. This genus forms a connecting link between Avrzoz and Lizmax, resembling the former in having a caudal slime-gland, and differing from both in the position of the reproductive orifice. There is only one known species. GEOMALACUS MACULO’SUS,f ALLMAN. PL. VI. Body capable of great extension, of a glossy black or brown colour of various shades, elegantly spotted with yellow on the mantle and upper part of the body, back covered with close-set longitudinal tubercles ; maz¢le finely shagreened ; head dusky- grey ; tentacles short, finely granulated, bulbs shining, eyeless ; foot thick, brownish-yellow with transverse stripes, squarish in front, ending in an obtusely rounded point behind ; soe yellow- ish-grey, divided lengthwise by a band of a paler colour ; s/zme- gland large. Length, 2 inches. Shell oval, rather solid, with concentric lines of growth. This singular and very beautiful mollusc was dis- covered in 1842, by Mr. Wm. Andrews, “on rocks around Lough Carrough, to the south of Castiemain Bay, Co. Kerry, in the west of Ireland,” and described by Professor Allman in a paper read by him in 1843 before the Dublin Natural History Society. t is active in its movements, and possesses the power of elongating its body to a remarkable extent. Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys informed me that some living * Earth-mollusce. t Spotted. 80 LIMACTIDZE. specimens sent to him by Mr. Waller from Valentia, were enclosed in a tin box having holes one-eighth of an inch in diameter to admit air; two of the slugs attenuated themselves to such an extent that they contrived to crawl out of the box through the holes. Professor Allman, in the paper above alluded to, states that he nearly lost the only specimen he then possessed, the animal having squeezed itself through a narrow opening of the lid of the box in which it was imprisoned. The animal is sometimes spotted with white instead of yellow, or is whitish with black spots. GENUS III.—LIMAX,* LINNE. Body elongated, cylindrical, skin wrinkled, back more or less keeled ; mantle either granulated or concentrically striated ; respiratory orifice near the posterior margin of the mantle ; reproductive orifice behind the base of the right upper tentacle ; slime-gland wanting ; jaw smooth, strongly arched, and beaked in front. Shell oval or unguiform, seated beneath, and covered by the hinder part of the mantle. The Limaces differ from the Arvzons in the position of the respiratory orifice, and in being destitute of a caudal slime-gland. They are more or less gre- garious ; sometimes a dozen or more may be seen together. Moquin-Tandon says that during the breeding season they excavate small subterraneous galleries in moist and sheltered places, in which they bury them- selves and deposit their eggs. * Slug. LIMA X. SI A. Mantle granulated. = LIMAX’ GAGA TES.) DREAPARNATIUN FI. Vi. Body rather narrow in front, broader in the middle, and taper- ing to a pointed tail; colour variable, black, slate-colour, dark red, dark brown, or yellowish with dusky markings, paler underneath, head and neck slate-colour, tubercles oblong, close- set ;. mantle oblong when the animal is extended, distinctly bilobed, the upper lobe nearly oval and bordered by a slender black line, which, when the animal is at rest,is somewhat angu- lated on the right side immediately above the respiratory orifice ; tentacles thick, short, upper pair dusky slate-colour, tips very slightly swollen, lower pair sometimes much paler in colour, tips dusky ; dack with a prominent keel which extends from the mantle to the tail; s/zme very thick and glutinous, white or faintly tinged with yellow, iridescent when dry. Leugth about 23 inches. Shell oval, thick from the nucleus to the centre, nacreous, iridescent, wrinkled and pitted; margiz thin; nucleus blunt, subterminal, Inhabits many parts of Great Britain, in hedgerows and gardens, at the foot of walls, as well as at the roots of grass and other plants, and among decaying vegetable matter, but it is rather local. 2) MARGINATUS? MIULLER: .. PE Body slightly swollen in front, tapering behind to a pointed tail, yellowish or rufous-brown, spotted with black or dark brown, irregularly wrinkled, head and tentacles dusky ; man¢le oblong, irregularly granulated, with a dark line on either side ; fez¢acles thick, tips not very tumid ; £ee/ prominent, extending from the mantle to the tail, usually of an amber colour, always lighter than the rest of the body ; foot with pale margins ; s/ze colourless, thick, and glutinous. Zeuzgth about 25 inches; /zmzgual ribbon with 80 rows of 1o1 teeth = 8080. * Vet. t+ Margined. $2 LIMACIDA:. Shell oval, thick, with well-defined lines of growth ; xucleus somewhat prominent, nearly terminal. Inhabits all parts of the British Isles, commonly, among decaying vegetable matter, and at the foot of walls in gardens, and under stones. It is a voracious slug, very destructive to garden produce, and it often devours earthworms as well as the young of its own species. It differs from ZL. gagates in colour, its mantle is not so large, and the respiratory orifice is placed nearer the hinder edge of the mantle. B. Mantle concentrically striate. 2) Ve LA MoS LINNE. Pi V ors: Body rather narrow in front, broader in the middle, tapering behind and keeled towards the tail, which is pointed; of a yellowish colour, tesselated with white and black or dark brown, coarsely tuberculated ; ead and zeck slate-colour ; mantle ob- long, broadly rounded behind, with concentric and slightly undulating wrinkles ; fez¢acles short, slate-colour ;_ foot bordered with pale yellow, sole milk-white ; s/zme yellow. Length about 4 inches ; Zéngual ribbon with 166 rows of 123 teeth = 20,418. Shell oblong, or quadrangular, somewhat concave under- neath, thin, with a membranous margin, lines of growth distinct ; nucleus slightly prominent. Inhabits all parts of the British Islands, in cellars and damp places in houses, as well asin moist woods, under stones and at the roots of plants. It is an active and very voracious slug. At night it leaves its hiding-place and greedily devours all sorts of vege- table and animal refuse. * Yellow. LIMAX. 93 4 1. AGRES'TIS.* Binnie Re Wins. Body slender, usually ash-grey with more or less of a rufous- brown or yellowish tint, sometimes cream-colour or whitish, and often mottled, covered, when at rest, with distinct oblong tubercles, nearly smooth when extended ; mantle large, rounded in front, more broadly so behind ; concentric strie@ moderately apparent when the animal is at rest, but indistinct when it is crawling ; dzentacles dusky-grey ; dack provided with a short oblique keel near the tail ; foof rather narrow, sole pale grey or cream-colour ; s/zme copious, milk-white, leaving a thick white film when dry. Length 13 inch; léngual ribbon with 100 rows of 65 teeth = 6500. Shell nearly oval, concave underneath, nearly flat above, rather thin, witha membranous margin, marked with afew indistinct lines of growth, which extend from the nucleus for a short distance on the convex or upper side of the shell, which is also covered with a network of exceedingly fine microscopic lines ; xzcleus small, placed slightly on one side. Inhabits gardens, fields, and hedgerows everywhere in this country. It is most destructive to fruit and vegetables in gardens, as well as to oats, clover, peas, and other crops in fields, and it is said to devour earthworms. According to Miiller it is shy, and when touched withdraws its tentacles and lies for a whole day as though it were dead; a specimen I now have, however, is exceedingly lively ; when touched it instantly protrudes its tentacles, extends its body, and crawls along rather rapidly. These slugs are very prolific, and breed several times between April and November ; the eggs are said to be uninjured by exposure to considerable heat. Gwyn Jeffreys states that they “ have retained their vitality and the young * Inhabiting fields. &4 LIMACIDEA. have been developed from them after having been dried eight times successively in a furnace,” B.C. 5, La LAe Vis * MULERR. ei Vy iawes Body slender, nearly smooth, exceedingly glossy, as if coated with moist varnish, dark brown with a violet tinge; mantle large, obtusely rounded in front and behind, wrinkled, hinder part very tumid and of a pale yellowish-brown colour, with an approach to transparency ; ¢eztacles short, thick, bulbs rather tumid ; foot narrow, sole ash-colour ; Zaz/ ending in a slightly obtuse point ; s/zme thin, almost colourless ; respiratory orifice placed towards the centre of the right margin of the mantle. Length from ¥ to 3 inch. Shell unguiform, very convex above, nearly flat underneath, solid, slightly glossy, with a few rather indistinct lines of growth, and numerous fine, irregular microscopic lines which intersect one another in some places, and in others are forked like a herring-bone; cleus terminal; margin sharp and slightly incurved, not membranous. Inhabits moist places, among moss and dead leaves and under stones and logs of wood, in many parts of this country: lt 1s an active little creature touched when it is crawling, it arches its body like the Geometride or “Looper” caterpillars, and when in this position the mantle, owing to the great con- vexity of the shell, becomes exceedingly tumid, re- sembling the hump of the dromedary. When at rest the animal is somewhat like a small leech. Gisa. TENEL'LUS,+ MULLER: PEW Lae, Body smooth, glossy, and alinost transparent; colour greenish-white, the shield yellowish, and the tentacles and head black ; occasionally marked on each side with an obscure whitish * Smooth. t Tender. LIMAX. gs band ; shzefd concentrically wrinkled ; s/me viscid, yellowish. Length, 0°75 inch. Shell irregularly oval or oblong, of a moderate consistence, somewhat arched, partially tuberculous or beaded, microscopi- cally and closely striated lengthwise; Goss indistinct, nearly terminal ; margzz rather broad, thin, and membranous. Habitat : North Mavine, Shetland, on stones ina watercourse of a mountain mill.—&.C, vol. v. p. 156. This slug was first noticed in this country by Mr. Blacklock, who found a single specimen in a wood at Allansford, near Shortly Bridge, Northumberland. 7. L. AR’BORUM,* BOUCHARD-CHANTEREAUX. Pi Woes. Body slaty-grey or greenish, spotted with yellowish-white, with a dusky band on each side ; #azzle rounded in front, bluntly pointed behind, with rather fine concentric and longitudinal wrinkles ; zentacles short ; back keeled near the tail ; foot mar- gined with white ; s/zme colourless, abundant, and very tena- cious. Length about 3 inches. Shell nearly oval, flattish, glossy, thin, with a membranous margin, indistinctly marked by the lines of growth, and micro- scopically striate as in LZ. agrestis ; nucleus small, subter- minal. Inhabits many parts of Great Britain, in woods, on trees, especially the beech and walnut, it has also been observed in exposed situations, and on rocks at an elevation of 1500 feet. This species, especially when young, is pre-eminently a thread-spinner ; it descends and sometimes even ascends from one branch of a tree to another by means of its mucous thread, which is no thicker than that of a common spider. It may be distinguished from the young of the next species * Frequenting trees, 86 LESTACEETIDZ, (ZL. maximus) for which it might be mistaken, by its tentacles being much shorter, and its shell smaller, flatter, and thinner ; its habitat is’also different. 8. L. MAX'IMUS,* LINNE.. PL.OVI. G25. Body long, rather slender ; colour varying from ash to yellow- ish-grey, or sometimes black, often streaked or spotted with white or black, with close-set, coarse, oblong wrinkles; mazd¢le considerably swollen, oblong, produced and pointed behind, stri@ regular, well-defined ; ¢eztacles long ; back slightly keeled near the tail ; foot bordered with white ; s¢zme thick, whitish. Length from 4 to 6 inches; dzzgual ribbon with 160 rows of 181 teeth = 28,960. Shell oblong, somewhat convex above, flattish or very slightly concave beneath, solid, moderately glossy, distinctly marked with lines of growth, and microscopically striate as in Z. agres- tis; margin membranous ; 2zucleus small, nearly terminal. Inhabits all parts of the British Isles, in damp cellars and outhouses, as well as in gardens, hedge- rows, and woods, in crevices of trees, under fallen timber, stones, &c. As its name implies, this is the largest of the British slugs. It usually feeds during the night, and is very partial to all kinds of kitchen refuse. These slugs are said to suspend themselves in pairs during the breeding season by a slimy thread. FAMILY III.—TESTACELLIDZ. Body cylindrical, considerably elongated, tapering in front ; mantle small, usually covered by the shell ; respzratory ortfice on the right side, below the mantle. Shell external, ear-shaped, placed towards the hinder part of the animal; sfzve small, terminal. * Largest. TEST ACELLA. 87 The Zestacelide form the connecting link between the Lzmacid@ and the Helicide ; their bodies, though not entirely naked like those of the former, are nearly so, and they resemble the latter in their shell being external. The family is represented by a single genus. . TESTACIM, LAD CU Yi Body slightly granulated, sides or corners of the lips capable of being protruded, causing the animal to appear as if it had three pairs of tentacles ; ¢evtacles 4, cylindrical; eyes placed a little above the centre of the tips ; foot provided with a prominent margin. Shell thick ; sfzre minute, forming one half of a whorl. The snail-slugs differ from all the other land mol- luscs (with the exception, perhaps, of Achatina) in being exclusively carnivorous ; their food chiefly con- sists of earthworms, which they attack with relentless ferocity, following them through their subterranean burrows, and, if need be, cutting off their retreat by countermining ; the unfortunate victim is devoured alive, being drawn into the mouth of the slug by the formidable array of curved and barbed teeth with which it is furnished. This savage creature feeds at night, and if its usual food is not forthcoming it will devour other slugs, as well as snails, and even its own species. When its ravenous appetite has been appeased it remains for a considerable time in a lethargic state. Though it is exceedingly hardy, and suffers but little from the cold, in very severe weather it forms a cocoon of particles of earth which are cemented together by its * Little shell. 88 LESTACELLT IDA, slime. It is by no means timorous; when placed on the hand it will soon extend itself and crawl along, and if an attempt be made to arrest its progress it will bite savagely. JI once made the experiment, and have no intention of repeating it. . The eggs of Zestacella are very large, of an oval form, and covered with a thick skin; they are de- posited separately underground, and the young are excluded in from twenty-five to thirty days. I, TESTACELLA HALIOTI'DEA,* DRAPARNAUD. Pr. Vi. bzs. Body capable of great extension, tapering in front, slender in the middle and broader behind, skin thick, with transverse wrinkles when the animal is resting, but nearly smooth when its body is extended, of*a dirty yellowish-brown colour, occasionally more or less spotted with red, white, or black ; /zds flexible and capable of being extended ; »zaz7¢le small, nearly covered by the shell ; zeztacles short, brown, tips very slightly swollen; dack rounded, with two longitudinal furrows which extend down- wards from the head to the front of the mantle, and are provided with a series of ramifications or slender branch-like offsets ; foot with a prominent border. Length about 3 inches ; “éxgual ribbon large, with about fifty rows of 51 teeth which are curved and barbed like a fish-hook. Shell oblong, compressed, solid, of a dull aspect, with regular close-set lines of growth; efzdermis moderately thick; spire very short, pointed, terminal; frozt margin rounded ; hinder margin obliquely truncated ; mouth very large ; (zp thickened and slightly reflected towards the pillar where it has a fold. Inhabits gardens in a few places in England and Ireland, and is common in Guernsey. Though this remarkable mollusc has no doubt been, from time to time, unintentionally imported from France and else- * Resembling Haliotis (the marine car-shell). TES TACELLA, 89 where into this country in soil at the roots of shrubs and other plants, there are, I think, some grounds for believing it to be indigenous in Great Britain. A few years ago, when on a visit at Woolverstone Park, in Suffolk, the seat of my kind and hospitable friend Mr. Berners, the head gardener informed me that he had recently observed several curious slugs in a bed in one of the vineries, and that they usually came to the surface after the soil had been watered. They proved to be 7. haliotidea. I ascertained that the bed had been emptied a short time previously, and replenished with loamy soil brought from a field in a remote part of the estate, and far distant from gardens, shrubberies, or plantations of any kind. Until the introduction of this soil the molluscs had never been seen by the gardener or his assistants, who naturally wage incessant war against slugs of all sorts, so that it is more than probable that they had been brought to the vinery from the field, where, owing to its position, it is not at all likely they could have been introduced. This species varies considerably in colour, as well as in the shape of the shell. Var. scutulum, Sowerby.—Body yellowish speckled with brown. Shell narrower, sfzve more produced and pointed, B.C. 2. T. MAUGEI, FERUSSAC. Body dark brown, head smaller than that of 7. haliotidea, Shell larger and more cylindrical. Inhabits nursery gardens near Bristol and other places ; it occurs in fields near Devizes (Cunningham fide Woodward). 90 HELICIDE. . FAMILY III.—HELICIDZE. Body elongated, spirally coiled ; mantle covering the neck, sometimes, though rarely, in the form of a demi-shield which is provided with a lobe; déentacles usually 4, rarely 2, retractile ; foot oblong, distinct from the body. Shell spiral, usually large enough to contain the whole body. The British members of this extensive family are divided into eleven genera. GENUS I.-—SUCCI'NEA# DRAPARNA UD. Body glutinous, thickish, usually incapable of being entirely covered by the shell; mazd¢le thin, entire; cex¢acles 4, upper pair conical, thickish at their base, lower pair very slender and short ; aw smooth ; lateral teeth serrated ; respiratory ortfice placed on the right side ; foot oblong, large. Shell dextral, oblong-ovate, fragile, of an amber-colour ; sfzre short ; south large. It has already been stated that the Lzmunede, though essentially aquatic animals, are capable of living for a considerable period out of water, some of them, indeed, at times voluntarily leaving it. With respect to the molluscs now under consideration the case is exactly reversed. The Swzccinee, though es- sentially terrestrial, can, and do occasionally, remain submerged ; and hence they form a connecting link between the truly aquatic and the truly terrestrial molluscs. The Swuccinee frequent marshy places, climbing up and resting on the stalks of flags, rushes, and other aquatic plants. During the time of drought they * Amber-coloured. SUCCINEA. gr retreat within their shell, and close its aperture with a membranous epiphragm. They are herbivorous. The eggs, which are united together in masses by a glu- tinous substance, are attached to the stems and leaves of plants, or to stones near the water, and Moquin- Tandon says he has even seen them under water. MSUCCINEA PU TRIS,;* Linn Pee Body somewhat thick, reddish-yellow above, of a lighter colour below, with minute, close-set, flattish tubercles ; ¢en¢acles short, diverging, upper pair very thick ; szout large ; foot broad, somewhat truncated in front, slightly pointed behind ; Zmgual ribbon with 50 rows of 65 teeth = 3250. Shell ovate, thin, nearly transparent, glossy, amber-coloured, frequently with a tinge of pink especially at the apex, with numerous fine and somewhat irregular strie in the line of growth ; efzdermzs thickish ; whorls 3-4, convex, body whorl occupying quite four-fifths of the shell ; sfzre short, apex obtuse ; suture deep and rather oblique ; south oval ; outer lip slightly thickened, contracted above, sharp towards the pillar. Inhabits most parts of Great Britain, in marshy places and on the banks of ditches, among sedges and other plants. It is sluggish and rather irritable, and its slime is abundant. The eggs are laid from May to September ; they are round and hyaline, and united in clusters by an albuminous covering of an oblong form. The young are excluded in about fif- teen days, and arrive at maturity at the end of the first year. Var. 1. subglobosa.—Shell shorter and broader in proportion to its length, usually much smaller and more solid. Marshes, and by the side of lakes on the sea-coast, and in mountainous districts, B.C. * Frequenting putridity. 92 ; HELICIDE. Var. 2. witrea.— Shell extremely thin. Carmarthenshire (J. G. J.), Cork (Humphreys), 2.C. Near Birmingham (G. sberiit Tye), 7.C. Var. 3. solidu/a.—Shell much thicker, reddish-yellow. Dept- ford, Wilts (J..G. J., B.C. Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys now considers the variety vztrea to be a distinct species, viz. the S. vzvescens of More- let. In his “Notes on some British Land and Fresh- water Shells,” which appeared in the ‘Annals and Magazine of Natural History’ for November, 1878, he makes the following remarks -—“ With respect, however to S. virescens of Morelet, ... I believe it is distinct from any of the three species which I have acknowledged as British, viz. putris, elegans, and oblonga. It should therefore be added to our native fauna. This is my variety wztrea of S. putris. .» wl dately found .a .specimen/ at St.) Aleame with S. putrzs, but unfortunately I had no time to examine the animal further than by noticing that it seemed to be of a darker hue than that of S. putris or elegans. Mr. Henry Groves has obligingly sent me a specimen of the shell which he had collected at) Mitcham, in Surrey....,.... The shell. is extremely thin, and finely striated lengthwise; the spire is very small; the last whorl disproportionately large, and the mouth more open and expanded than in any other European species. I regard it as the S. vtrescens of Morelet, and not as his S. debzlis which Baudon “names... it... . ..+ Baudon’s_ description of the animal of his S. debits differs from Morelet’s description of the animal of S. virescens chiefly in colour, the former being ‘gris jaunatre’ (yellowish- SUCCINEA. 93 grey) and the latter ‘brun roussatre’ (reddish-brown), although I do not attach much importance to that character. Not merely does the intensity of colour vary in many specimens of the same species of land shell, but also the arrangement of the colours.” Our brother conchologists on the other side of the “silver streak” are most zealous and painstaking in their researches, but some of them are confirmed species-makers. Perhaps it might be well to leave this form in the place originally assigned to it, and regard it as S. putris var. vitrea, for if the points in which it differs from the type are held to be of sufficient importance to warrant its being regarded as a distinct species, there are numberless varieties of other molluscs which are equally entitled to be _ raised to a similar rank. aoe OE HCANS,* RISSO, PLO We Body yellowish-brown, sometimes blackish, paler in colour beneath, with very small round tubercles; ¢extacles very short, diverging at their base, transparent, yellowish-white, with a longitudinal row of black specks, upper pair with rounded tips ; foot broad, margined with white, rounded in front and somewhat pointed behind. Shell more slender in form than the last, not quite so thin, glossy, semitransparent, of a dark amber colour frequently tinged (especially at the apex) with pink; s¢rzatéon as in S. putris ; whorls 3-4, scarcely so convex as in the last species; spzre rather more produced, apex less obtuse; suture exceedingly oblique, moderately deep ; mouth as in S. futris, but narrower ; outer lip slightly thickened, much inflected above. Inhabits situations similar to those frequented by S. putris, with which it is often found in company. * Elegant. 94 HELICIDE. The characters which distinguish S. elegans from S. putris are perhaps scarcely decided enough satis- factorily to admit of the two forms being regarded as specifically distinct. On one occasion I observed a matrimonial alliance between them. Var. 1. mznor.—Shell smaller and thinner, of a reddish-brown colour, with a shorter spire and more expanded mouth. Falmouth, Hammersmith (J. G. J.), B.C. Var. 2. ochracea.—Shell smaller and thinner, of a reddish- brown, with a larger spire and smaller mouth. Scarborough (Bean), Newcastle (Alder), Tenby, Tingwall Lake, Zetland, (J. G. J.) ; often mistaken for S. oblonga, B.C. Southend, Kent, Re, Monst. szzzstrorsa.—Shell thicker, ochraceous, spire reversed. I found a single specimen near Eastbourne. M. Baudon states in his ‘ Monographie des Succinées Frangaises,’ that a specimen of this monstrosity had been sent him by M. Fagot from the department Aveiron. S. OBLON GA DRAPARNAUD, WEL. ae 3 Body short, shagreened, greyish, or sometimes whitish ; tentacles, wpper pair rather short, tips scarcely swollen, lower pair very short and obtuse at the tips ; foof rather broad, obtusely pointed behind. Shell oblong-conic, moderately thin, somewhat glossy, semi- transparent, yellowish or brownish horn-colour, with sometimes a faint tinge of green, with strongish irregular striz in the line of growth ; efzdermis thick ; whorls 3-4, convex; spire pro- duced, apex obtuse; suture deep, oblique; south roundish- oval; outer lip thickish, incurved above. Inhabits dry ditches, under stones and at the roots of grass. In this country it is a rare species, and it usually occurs near the sea-coast. It has been * Oblong. VITRINA. 95 found in the following localities :—Sandhills on Crym- lyn Burrows near Swansea, and in a similar situ- ation on Braunton Burrows, near Bideford, in North Devon (Gwyn Jeffreys), near Glasgow (Kenyon), Baltimore (Mr. Andrew), Cork (Wright and Carroll), B.C. and more recently in the last-named locality by Mr. C. P. Gloyne. It may be at once distinguished from the other species by its much smaller shell, which in pro- portion to its size has a much larger spire; the suture too is deeper and the mouth rounder. The shell is often thinly coated with particles of sand or mud which are caused to adhere to its surface by the slimy secretion of the animal. GENUS II.—VIT'RINA,* DRAPARNAUD. Body rather slender, usually, but not always, slightly too large to be entirely contained within the shell; santle demi- shield-like, provided with a lobe on the right side; d¢endzacles 4, cylindrical, upper pair of medium size, lower pair very short; respiratory orifice on the right side near the lobe of the mantle ; foo¢ somewhat narrow. Shell subglobular, very thin and fragile, transparent ; spzre short ; mouth semilunar, somewhat oblique ; wmdzlzcus wanting. These molluscs form a connecting link between the slugs and the true snails, “leading to the former through Swccinea and to the latter through Zonzttes,” B.C, vol. i. p. 156. Their lingual dentition and shield- like mantle resemble those of Lzmax, and their shell that of Helix. They are both herbivorous and car- nivorous; their food consists for the most part of decomposing vegetable matter, but they also devour * So named on account of its glassy appearance. 96 HELICID 2. worms, and even small snails. They frequent damp and shady situations. Their eggs are laid in small. clusters, and protected by a membranous envelope. In this country the genus is represented by a single species only. VITRINA PELLU CIDA,” MULLER. Pua Body rather slender, capable of being entirely contained within the shell, slightly transparent, of a pinkish-grey colour ; mantle finely spotted with black, especially behind ; ¢em¢acles ashy-grey; foot yellowish beneath and terminating in a point behind. The lingual teeth consist of 100 rows, each of which contains 75; the edge teeth are hooked ; the jaw is arched backwards, nearly smooth and produced in front. | Shell convex above, somewhat compressed beneath, very thin and fragile, transparent, extremely lustrous, of a very pale greenish colour, faintly striate both in the line of growth and spirally; efzdermzs thin; whorls 3-4, body whorl occupying about two-thirds of the shell; sfzre very short, apex obtuse ; suture grooved, but very shallow, with faint striz; south forming nearly four-fifths of a circle ; outer /7 moderately thin ; umbilicus wanting. Inhabits woods, hedgerows, and shady places, under moss, stones, fallen trees, and decayed leaves in all parts of Great Britain and Ireland. This pretty mollusc is exceedingly hardy. I have frequently observed it in Scotland crawling among moss and dead leaves during the winter when snow was on the sround. It isa restless, busy little creature, constantly on the move, and it seems to be very particular about its personal appearance, for with untiring diligence it polishes its shell with the mantle, producing thereby a gloss which does infinite credit to its industry. It is possessed of some amount of cunning. Miiller * Transparent. ZONITES. 97 relates that when he placed it under water (where it is capable of remaining for a considerable time with- out injury) it drew in its tentacles, at the same time extending its body and making it rigid in order that it might appear to be dead. Having remained for a few hours in this position it crawled slowly out of the water, and cautiously protruding its tentacles to make sure that the way was clear, it hastened to a safe hiding-place and retreated within its shell. The expedient of feigning death, or sometimes lameness, during moments of alarm, is frequently re- sorted to by animals. Some beetles when molested will roll over and remain quite motionless, as if they were dead. The lapwing, when the approach of a stranger imperils the safety of her eggs or young, wheels in circles round the intruder’s head, uttering the while her plaintive cry, then suddenly darting off to a distance she lights upon the ground, and feigning lameness, runs limping along, inviting his pursuit in the hope of decoying him far away from her nest. Var. 1. depressiuscula, Jeffr.—Shell rather oval and flatter on both sides ; sfzre scarcely raised above the level of the last whorl. Near Swansea and Plymouth (J. G. J.), B.C. Var. 2. Dillwynzz, Jeffr.—Shell nearly globular, with the last whorl very convex; sfzve more prominent. Sandhills near Swansea, at the roots of Rosa spinosissima (J. G. J.), B.C. GENUS [I-—ZONI'TES,* DE MONTFORT. Body elongated, capable of being entirely contained within the shell; mantle thick, slightly reflected ; tentacles 4, cylin- drical, swollen at their tips; foot long, slender ; jaw smooth, more or less beaked ; edge teeth of /¢xgual ribbon hooked. * From the Latin word zona, a girdle. 98 HELICIDA. Shell dextral, usually depressed, thin, glossy, more or less transparent ; south semilunar or roundish; outer /ip thin ; umbilicus usually distinct. The Zonites live in moist and shady places, and feed upon animal as well as vegetable matter. Their jaw resembles that of Lzmax, Vitrina, and Succinea, being smooth, arched, and provided with a more or less prominent beak in the centre of the lower edge. Some species, especially when irritated, emit a strong smell of garlic. Their eggs are united to- gether in masses and deposited in the ground. A. Spire depressed ; umbilicus open. i: LONILES CELLARIUS,” MULLER: /PE ie Body bluntly rounded in front, gradually tapering behind, not very transparent, of a dusky slate-colour above, pale slaty-grey on the sides, covered, except on the neck, with small, round, close-set, flattened tubercles ; ¢ezfacles rather long and slender, bulbs large, upper tentacles somewhat separated at their base, of a dark slate-colour granulated with black specks, lower pair closer together, yellowish-grey with black spots; foot very narrow, yellowish-grey, pointed and slightly keeled behind ; lingual ribbon with 38 rows of 35 teeth = 1330. Shell compressed, almost equally convex above and below, rather thin and fragile, glossy, somewhat transparent, pale brownish or yellowish horn-colour above, opaque white some- times faintly tinged with green beneath, with irregular curved striae (which are more strongly defined near the suture) in the line of growth, and faintly striated spirally ; ef¢dermzs thickish ; whorls 5-6, gradually enlarging, body whorl about half the size of the shell ; sfzve short, apex very blunt ; sw¢ure shallow, grooved ; mouth semilunar, oblique ; outer dip slightly reflected ; umbilicus broad and deep. * Frequenting cellars. ZONITES. 99 Inhabits damp cellars, outhouses, yards, and similar places, under stones, bricks, or tiles, as well as woods and hedgerows, among moss and below fallen trees, throughout Great Britain. This common species is timid and inactive. It secretes a large quantity of thin slime. It lays from thirty to forty eggs, and the young are hatched in from fifteen to sixteen days. Var. 1. complanata.—Shell smaller, sAzre flatter. Var. 2. aloida.—Shell colourless, or white. Var. 3. compacta.—Shell more compact, and convex; body whorl less swollen, not so white beneath. These varieties are of tolerably frequent occurrence. e212 ALEEABIUS,” MULLER.’ Prova Body blackish ; zeztacles short ; in other respects resembling the last species, Shell less depressed above, rather more compressed below than in Z. cellarzus, somewhat thicker, more glossy, of a darker horn-colour above, and with less of the opaque white colour below ; s¢rz@ faint ; whor/s 4-5, somewhat convex, body whorl smaller in proportion than that of the last species ; sfzre slightly produced; suture well defined, but not grooved; mouth narrow ; outer lip slightly reflected ; zszbz/zcus wide and deep; lingual ribbon with 35 rows of 25 teeth = 875. Inhabits woods, hedgerows, and mossy banks, as well as more exposed situations, under stones, &c., all over Great Britain, but it is rather local. The shell is much smaller than that of Z. cellarius, its spire is more produced, the mouth narrower, and the umbilicus proportionably wider. Gwyn Jeffreys says: “If the two shells are held sideways, with the mouth towards the observer, the last whorl of Z. cellarius will appear * Smelling of garlic. 100 HELTICIDZ. deeper than in the other shell.” The strong smell of garlic which this mollusc occasionally emits should not be relied upon as a test whereby to distinguish it from its allies, for other species of the genus are endowed with the same faculty. Var. viridula.—Shell greenish-white. This variety has been observed in several localities in England, Scotland, and Ireland, 2: ZL. GLA BER, OTUDER, ) Pi... Vad. “Body dark bluish-grey, striped like a zebra on each side in front, and irregularly mottled behind ; two narrow and slight parallel grooves run along the neck from the head to the upper lip of the shell ; the surface is more or less wrinkled, and has a few large but indistinct lozenge-shaped markings ; mantle very thick and dark at the mouth of the shell, over which its edges are folded ; ¢eztacles, upper pair rather long, and finely granu- lated ; lower pair very short ; eves small, placed on the upper part, but not at the tips, of the tentacular bulbs ; vesfzratory orifice round, occupying the centre of the pallial fold ; foot very long and slender; the sole appears as if separated from the » upper part of the foot, being defined by a darker line ; s¢zme thin and nearly transparent.”"—Gwyn Jeffreys in ‘Annals and Magazine of Nat. Hist.’ for May, 1870. Shell compressed, somewhat convex above, less so beneath, thin, exceedingly glossy, moderately transparent, darkish horn- colour, somewhat clouded with opaque white in the umbilical region; sculpture consisting of numerous but rather indis- tinctly defined transverse striz which are stronger and slightly puckered at the suture; epzdermis very thin; whorls 5-52, gradually increasing, convex, body whorl occupying about half of the shell, flattish beneath and sloping abruptly from above and below towards the periphery, which consequently has a slightly angulated appearance; sfzre slightly produced, apex obtuse ; sw¢ure well defined, but not deep ; south large, form- ing about three-fourths of a circle ; outer lif slightly reflected near the pillar ; #mbz/icus narrow but deep. * Smooth. LONTTES: IOI Z. glaber was first noticed in this country in 1870 by Mr. Rogers of Manchester, and his discovery was recorded in the ‘Annals and Magazine of Natural History’ for May in that year by Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys as follows :—“ My correspondent, Mr. Thomas Rogers of Manchester, has added another species to this well- worked department of our fauna. Specimens of a Zonites which he has now sent me, collected by him under stones at Marple Wood in Cheshire, prove to be the Helx glabra of Studer, ‘ Fér. Prodr.,’ No. 215. Z. glaber has a wide range on the Continent, from Normandy (where I have taken it), through France, Savoy, Switzerland, Germany, and Dalmatia, to Epirus in Greece. I also found the same species in 1846 at Grassmere and in 1857 at Barmouth, but had over- looked it. Mr. Rogers’ specimens being alive, I subjoin a description of the animal.” The descrip- tion has been transcribed above. It is remarkable that this species should have been so long overlooked, for it seems to have a wide range in this country. I have found it in Devonshire and in Dumfriesshire, and many other localities have from time to time been given for it since its discovery by Mr. Rogers. Mr. Henry Groves informs me that it emits a very strong smell of garlic when plunged into boiling water. At, NIT! DULUS,* DRAPARNAUD. 22h. ye “Body dark grey, or slate-colour with a brownish tinge, covered with flat and irregularly shaped tubercles of a darker hue, which give a speckled appearance ; ¢ez¢acles rather short * Slightly shining, 102 HELICIDZ. and conical ; du/és small ; foot rather narrow in front, swollen and keeled behind” (&.C., vol. i. p. 163) ; ¢éxgual ribbon with 55 rows of 65 teeth = 3575. Shell compressed, rather more convex above than below, moderately thin and glossy, nearly semitransparent, yellowish or brownish horn-colour, rather more polished below than above, except in the umbilical region, which is clouded with opaque white ; marked in the line of growth with tolerably well- defined striz, which are stronger and puckered near the suture, and regularly but faintly striate spirally ; efzdermis moderately thick ; whorls 4-5, convex, body whorl about half the size of the shell; sfzre slightly produced, apex obtuse; suture deepish ; #zouth roundish, slightly oblique ; outer @zH not re- flected ; wmdzlicus wide and very deep. Inhabits woods and hedgerows, under stones and among damp moss and decayed leaves, all over Great Britain. It is a timid species, and often buries itself in the earth. The shell, which resembles that of Z. cellarius, differs from it in the following respects :— It is smaller, rather more convex above and less so beneath, the spire is more produced, the umbilicus is considerably larger and deeper, the mouth less ob- lique, the outer lip not reflected, and the surface, especially above, is of a dullish aspect instead of being brilliantly polished. Var. 1. 2ztens.—“ Shell rather smaller and of a lighter colour, with a dull and waxy appearance; last whorl somewhat larger in proportion to the others, and laterally expanded.” 4. uztens, Michaud. Very common, &.C. Var. 2. Helmiz Gzlbertson.—‘ Shell pearl-white.” Preston (Gilbertson), Sevenoaks, Kent (Smith), &.C. Teignmouth, Devon (R. R.). The Rev. J. McMurtrie informs me that in Perth- shire he has found specimens of Z. uztidulus which emitted a strong smell of garlic. ZONITES. 103 5: 2, PU RUS,* ALDER? Ye win Body slightly transparent, yellowish-grey very faintly tinged with slate-colour, mottled with minute black specks, closely tuberculate ; ¢extacles very long, rather slender, somewhat diverging at their base, of a slaty-grey finely spotted with black, yellowish towards the tips, bulbs small; /oo¢ narrow, slightly pointed in front, rounded behind, finely speckled with dark grey. ‘Shell compressed, rather more convex above than below, very thin, not very glossy but semitransparent, light horn- colour, with a yellow or reddish tinge on the upper side, exqui- sitely sculptured transversely by numerous curved striz, and spirally by still finer and almost microscopic lines, the intersec- tion of which gives the surface a reticulated appearance ; epidermis thin; wkorls 4, convex, but dilated laterally, the last occupying scarcely one-half of the shell; szre slightly raised ; suture moderately deep, puckered by the lines of growth ; mouth nearly round, and not much interrupted by the penultimate whorl; outer lip not very oblique; wsmbzlicus narrow, but deep, disclosing all the internal spire.”—JB.C., vol. 1. Pp: 165. Inhabits woods, under stones and among moss and decaying leaves throughout Great Britain, but it is a local species. The shell is very much smaller than that of Z. zitidulus, and the umbilicus is proportion- ably narrower. Var. margaritacea.—Shell pearl-white, and nearly trans- parent, B.C. It is frequently found with the type. 6.2. RADIATULUS,|) ALDER. Eis VE Body dusky ; ¢ez¢acles blackish, upper pair very thin, lower pair very short ; foo¢ extremely narrow, ending in a rather sharp point behind, blackish above, light grey spotted with black on its sides. * Clear. t Slightly rayed. 104 HELICIDE. Shell compressed, of equal convexity above and beneath, extremely glossy, semitransparent, darkish horn-colour, with regular, close-set, sharply-defined, curved, transverse strize, which extend to the suture and impart to the shell a rayed appear- ance; the striation is similar but less distinct at the base of the shell; epzdermis thin; whorls 4-43, convex, slightly compressed near the suture, body whorl scarcely half the size of the shell; sfzre slightly produced, apex blunt ; suture not very deep ; outh forming about three-fourths of a circle, occasionally provided internally with a thin white rib ; outer lip very slightly oblique ; zmzbz/zcus small but deepish. Inhabits woods and hedgerows, among moss and decayed leaves, at the roots of grass, and under stones and fallen branches in most parts of Great Britain. This pretty little shell may be distinguished from Z. purus by its more glossy appearance, as well as by its stronger striation and smaller umbilicus. Var. viridescenti-alba.— Shell greenish white. Shropshire, Co. Cork, Co. Tyrone, Aberdeen (J. G. J.), Belfast (Thompson), &.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sheri Tye), 7-¢C 7. 2 St TIDUS: MULTER. 7 Pu Wile Body rather small, strongly truncate in front, slaty-black or brown, tubercles flattish, round, large, black, placed rather widely apart ; ¢ez¢acles thick, upper pair blackish, moderately diverging at their base, bulbs globular, lower pair much shorter than the others, paler in colour, and considerably diverging ; foot slightly truncated in front, narrow, and slightly keeled behind. Shell subglobular, considerably more convex above than beneath, moderately thin, glossy, semitransparent, brownish horn-colour (much darker when the animal is within), with numerous close-set, curved, transverse strize, which extend to the suture, where they are puckered and more strongly defined ; * Shining. ZLONITES:, 105 epidermis rather thin; whorls 5, convex, body whorl about half the size of the shell; sfzvxe somewhat produced, apex obtuse ; suture deep ; mouth forming three-fourths of a circle ; outer lip thin, somewhat oblique, reflected near the pillar ; umbilicus narrow but deep. Inhabits moist places at the roots of grass, among moss, and under stones throughout the British Isles. This common species not only delights in damp situ- ations, but is capable of remaining for some time under water. On one occasion when in search of Pisidia, having pulled up some aquatic plants, I found among their roots several living specimens of Z. nitidus, which had been submerged to a depth of six or eight inches. The chief points of difference between this and the last species will be seen in the following table of comparison :— Radiatulus. Nitidus. Tentacles, wpper pair very Tentacles thick. slender. Shell equally convex above Shell larger, much more con- and below, very glossy, | vex above than below, very thin. glossy, moderately thin, Strz@ strongly defined. | Strz@ less strongly defined. Sire slightly raised. | Spzre somewhat produced. Suture not very deep. | Suture deep. Outer lip scarcely oblique. | Outer lip somewhat oblique. Var. albida.—Shell white or colourless. Dead specimens found by Mr. Choules among the rejectamenta of the Thames at Richmond, B.C. 8. Z. EXCAVA TUS BEAN. (Pio VEE “Body slender, greyish-white, with three or four raised lines along the neck ; mantle closely covered with milk-white specks ; * Hollowed out (in reference to its wide and deep wmdilicus). 106 AELICIDZ. tentacles divergent, upper pair rather long and cylindrical, coarsely granulated, lower pair short; foot thick, obtusely rounded in front, and gradually narrowing behind to an angular or keeled point ; sme rather copious and iridescent.”—B.C., VOL V.4p. 157. Shell compressed, more convex above than beneath, glossy, semitransparent, brownish or yellowish horn-colour, with strongly defined strize in the line of growth ; efzdermzs rather thin; whorls 53, convex, somewhat compact, body whorl occupying a little more than a third of the shell, its base considerably rounded; sfzre slightly produced; suture very deep ; mouth forming about three-fourths of a circle, slightly compressed below ; ozdéer /zp thin, rather oblique, reflected near the pillar ; zszbzlzcus very wide and deep. Inhabits woods, among moss and decayed leaves, and under fallen timber. Though local it has a wide range. It has been noticed as far north as Aberdeen (J. G.J.), and it occurs in Perthshire, Argyleshire, Bute, and Rosshire (Buchanan White), and in the south and south-west of Scotland, the north of Eng- land, near Tunbridge Wells (J. G. J.), the Isle of Wight, and Cornwall, also in North and South Wales, and the west and south of Ireland. The shell of this species may be distinguished from that of 7. uztidus by its stronger striation, more com- pact whorls, flatter spire, deeper suture, and wider umbilicus. Gwyn Jeffreys is of opinion that this species has been erroneously regarded as belonging exclusively to Great Britain. In ‘British Conchology,’ vol. i. p. 169, he remarks: “I can answer for the identity of Z. excavatus vat. vitrina (or viridula) with the 1. petronella of Charpentier, having found specimens of the latter on the Gorner Glacier in Switzerland at a height of LONTTES. 107 about 7000 feet above the sea-level, and afterwards compared them with the types in Charpentier’s col- lection: <2. Instead, therefore, ‘of the present species being exclusively British, it likewise appears to inhabit Lapland, Finland, Germany, and Switzer- land.” Var. vitrina. — Shell greenish-white, transparent. Helix vitrina, Fér., ‘Tabl. Syst.,’ p. 45; A. viridula, Menke, ‘Syn. Moll.,’ p. 20. South Wales, Cork, and Connemara, B.C. War- wickshire (W. G. Blatch), near Huddersfield (J. Whitwham), 7.C. Oy Z. ‘CRYSTAL LINUS,* MULLER: PL. Vik Body milk-white, almost transparent; ‘exfacles shortish, upper pair inky-black, lower pair greyish ; foot whitish, narrow, ending in a point behind. Shell depressed above, slightly convex underneath, thin, ex- tremely glossy, translucent and iridescent, white with a greenish tinge, with very fine, close-set, transverse strie, which are stronger near the suture ; epidermis exceedingly thin ; whorls 4-5, gradually increasing, somewhat convex, but outwardly compressed ; sfzre very slightly produced ; suture distinct but shallow ; south semilunar, sometimes furnished with a slight internal rib ; outer ip very thin, oblique ; wsdzlzcus distinct but narrow and not deep. Inhabits woods, damp meadows, and shady places, among moss and decayed leaves, as well as under stones and fallen branches of trees in most parts of Great Britain. Var. complanata.—Shell nearly flat on both sides, the last whorl proportionally larger than the others. Leigh Woods, near Bristol (J. G. J.), B.C., vol. 1. p. 176: * Resembling crystal. 108 HELICTD ZZ. B. Shell conical, wmbclicus indistinct. 10. _Z. FUL VUS,* MULLER. FE. woe Body long and slender, nearly opaque, of a dark slaty-grey or reddish-brown colour, finely spotted with black ; ¢ezd¢acles very long, slaty-black, upper pair diverging considerably, bulbs globular ; foot rounded in front, keeled, and ending in a point behind ; 2zxgual rzbbon with 70 rows of 45 teeth = 3150. Shell conical, thin, glossy, especially underneath, semitrans- parent, of a tawny colour, with numerous very fine, irregular, transverse striz, which are crossed by exceedingly delicate spiral lines visible only under a powerful lens, though they are slightly stronger below the periphery ; epzdermis very thin; whorls 53-6, gradually enlarging ; periphery bluntly but dis- tinctly keeled ; sfzre produced, apex obtuse ; suture well de- fined ; #zou¢h semilunar, narrow ; outer /zp reflected on the pillar ; umozlicus Minute, in immature specimens a mere depression. Inhabits woods and other shady places in damp situations, among dead leaves, under fallen branches of trees and stones, in most parts of Great Britain. Though rather inactive, this little mollusc does not often retire within its shell unless disturbed. It secretes an abundance of slime. In adult specimens the epidermis, especially on the upper whorls, is frequently eroded. The shell varies considerably in size and colour according to the nature of its habitat. It forms a connecting link between the genus to which it belongs and that of felzx. Var. Mortonz.—Shell of a paler colour, with the spire more depressed and the peripheral keel sharper. /el¢x MJortonz, Jeffr. in ‘ Linn. Trans.,’ vol. xvi. p. 332. Somerset and North Hants, B.C. Heaton Dean near Newcastle (W. D. Sutton), 7.C. * Tawny. HELIX. 109 GENUS IV.—HE'LIX, LINNE. Body somewhat elongated, capable of being contained within the shell ; szantle thick, not reflected ; ¢entacles 4, cylindrical, bulbs more or less tumid ; foot usually broad ; jaw arched and ribbed, edge teeth of 4ézgual rzbbon serrated. Shell conical, more or less globose ; sfzve in most cases pro- duced ; mouth more or less circular or oval ; outer lif usually thick, with an internal rib, and reflected, sometimes thin, occa- sionally provided with teeth or tubercles ; zszbz/icus more or less distinct, occasionally wanting. The food of the Helzces, or true snails, chiefly con- sists of vegetable matter, but some species are car- nivorous as well as herbivorous. Their habits, as well as the nature of the localities they frequent, vary considerably ; most species delight in moist and shady places, but some brave the scorching rays of the summer sun, and others the cold of elevated situations. Except in wet and cloudy weather they usually lie concealed during the daytime among moss and dead leaves, at the roots of plants, or under stones ; in the evening they sally forth in quest of food, and soon after sunrise retire again to their hiding places. Those species which do not require a place of shelter during the heat of the day close the aperture of their shell with a thin epiphragm, and suspend themselves by means of their slimy secretion to the stalks of grass or other plants. On the ap- proach of winter most of them retire from active life, either burying themselves in the ground or retreating to some other hiding place, where, after closing the aperture of their shell with a much thicker epiphragm * A coil. 110 HELICIDE. than that which serves to protect them from the heat in summer, they remain in a dormant state until the return of spring. Many, if not all of the Helices are provided in the pairing season with sharp, crystalline, spear-head- shaped weapons, which are contained in a sac or pouch and vary in number as well as in form in the several species. During the period of courtship these “love darts” are plunged by the animals into each other’s bodies for the purpose of creating mutual excitement. The eggs of these molluscs are joined together in a cluster and buried in the earth in small trenches which the animal excavates with its foot. i. HELIX LAMELLA'TA,* JEFFREYS. PL. VII: Body yellowish-white, back slaty-grey with a yellowish- white line running down the middle; Zezfacles, upper pair clavate, rather long, of a dark bluish colour, bulbs inky-black, globular ; lower tentacles much lighter in colour than the upper pair, tips whitish ; foot whitish, rather narrow, tapering to a fine but slightly obtuse point behind. Shell globosely conic, thin, semitransparent, in some lights having the appearance of satin, yellowish horn-colour ; epzdermis thickish, raised in the line of growth into numerous thin, close- set, regular, and slightly oblique laminz or plaits, the inter- vening furrows being finely and microscopically striate in the same direction; whor/s 6, rounded, very gradually increasing ; spire somewhat depressed, apex obtuse; suture deep ; mouth semilunar ; owter /ip thin, slightly reflected on the pillar ; - bilicus small, very deep. Inhabits woods in some of the northern counties of England, as well as in North Wales, the northern and * Having plaits. AELIX; Iti western parts of Scotland, and in Ireland generally. This beautiful little mollusc lives among, and feeds upon, fallen and decaying leaves, especially those of the holly and the fronds of some of the ferns. Dr. F. Buchanan White has “found it in the wooded highland glens at an elevation of 1200 feet,” and has “met with it as far north as Rosshire.”’ He adds, “though I carefully searched I have never been able to find damellata or any other shell among holly leaves.”——‘ Scottish Naturalist,’ vol. ii. It may be that the localities examined by him furnished a more tempting repast, but in the south-west of Scotland I always search among fallen holly leaves for H. damel- Jata, and find it, as well as HZ. aculeata and Z. fulvus, in considerable abundance upon them. When crawl- ing its movement is unusually rapid, and it carries its shell in an upright position, swaying it from side to side as it advances, reminding one of the waddling of a duck. It is very timid, and seems to be impatient of the light. Being desirous of examining some captive specimens, I found that the readiest way of inducing them to show themselves was to allow a gleam of sunshine to fall upon their shell, from which, after a few moments, they would emerge, and crawl away in quest of shade. The spire of the shell, es- pecially at the apex, is frequently denuded of its epidermis. 2, Hi; ACULEATA,* MULIER) Pipa Body varying in colour from slaty to greenish grey or pale brown ; Zzentacles long, thick, upper pair finely speckled with black ; foo¢ narrow, tapering to a point behind. * Prickly, iz HELICIDE. Shell conical, globose, thin, scarcely semitransparent, of a dull aspect, brownish horn-colour ; efzdermzs raised in the line of growth into numerous thin plaits or ridges, which in the centre of the whorls are produced into spinous points, the inter- mediate furrows are microscopically striate transversely ; ef7- dermis thick ; whorls 4-43, convex, gradually increasing ; erz- phery faintly keeled ; apex obtuse ; mouth nearly semicircular ; outer lip with an internal white rib, somewhat reflected ; zmzbz- Zicus rather small. Inhabits woods and hedgerows in moss and under fallen leaves in most parts of Great Britain. Gwyn Jeffreys says he has observed it feeding on Funger- mannia platyphylla (fat-leaved Jungermannia). I do not think, however, that it feeds exclusively upon that plant, for I have found it much more frequently on the fallen leaves of trees, particularly those of the beech and holly. It is less shy than A. lamellata, and like that species carries its shell erect, but its movements are more graceful. Var. albida.—Shell whitish. Bath (Clark), B.C. 2. POMA ATLA,” ) LINNE.. Pi. Vu Body varying in colour from yellowish-grey to pale brown, thickly covered with large, oval, wart-like excrescences ; mantle with three fleshy lobes ; ¢ez¢acles long, bulbs globular, small ; foot broad, rounded in front, bluntly pointed behind; dzzgual ribbon with 140 rows of 151 teeth = 21,140. Shell globose, solid, almost opaque, dull yellowish-white more or less banded and tinged with brown, with strong, coarse, irregular strize in the line of growth, which are crossed by fine spiral lines; efzdermzs thickish ; whorls 4-5, much rounded, body whorl occupying about two-thirds of the shell ; sAzve short, apex obtuse ; swture distinct, but shallow; mouth roundish, * Operculate. PBLIX, 113 somewhat angulated above ; outer lzp thick, reflected, especially over the umbilicus ; zzser /z a mere film which is spread over the base of the penultimate whorl ; wmzdz/icus very narrow. Inhabits woods and hedgerows, as well as grassy places on chalky soil, chiefly in the south of England. It does not appear to have been found either in Scotland or Ireland, and its range in England does not extend further north than the Midland counties. It was at one time supposed to have been introduced into this country by the Romans, as well as more recently by some of our own countrymen; but Gwyn Jeffreys, upon sufficiently strong grounds, believes it to be indigenous. In France, Belgium, and elsewhere on the Con- tinent, this species is used and esteemed as an article of food, and is exposed for sale in the markets. It is by far the largest of our land shells. “M. Gaspard says that when the period of hibernating has arrived these snails become indolent, lose their appetite, and associate together. Each snail then excavates with its large and muscular foot a hole in the ground, just large enough to contain the shell. This it roofs in and lines with earth and dead leaves, making with its slime a kind of mortar, and smoothing over the inner surface of its winter domicile. Having accomplished this, it closes the mouth of the shell with a thick calcareous lid, the substance of which, when first poured out from the edges of the mantle, resembles liquid plaster of Paris. It then withdraws its body far into the interior of the shell, covering, as it retires, the empty space with several layers in succession of a fine membrane or film, in order the more completely I 114 HELICIDE. to exclude the cold air. In this snug receptacle it remains in a torpid state until the return of spring, all animal functions being in the meantime sus- pended. It then loosens and casts aside its winter bonds and resumes its former life.”—B.C., vol. i. p. 179. This species derives its name from a Greek word which signifies an operculum, in reference to the calcareous lid above alluded to, which is not, how- ever, like a true operculum attached to the animal, but a thick and rather convex plate which exactly fits the aperture of the shell, and is cast aside at the close of winter. The eggs of this species are round, and nearly as large asa pea. They are deposited in the earth, and the young are excluded after the lapse of from twenty to forty-five days. Var. al6¢da.—Shell whitish or colourless, near Reigate (Brewer), B.C. Charlbury near Banbury, Oxfordshire (D. Pidgeon), 7.C., vol.i.p. 56. I have never seen this variety in an immature state, and am inclined to think that age has something to do with the colour. 4°. ASPER'SA;* (MULLER, Pr -Vill: Body oblong, dark brown, or dusky-grey, speckled with white, roughly granulated ; ¢ezfacles long, slender, diverging at their base, brownish, bulbs small ; foot rounded in front, and ending in a point behind, margined with yellow ; /zzgual ribbon with 135 rows of 105 teeth = 14,175. Shell globose, somewhat thick and solid, of a dullish aspect, almost opaque, yellowish with dark brown bands, of which there are usually from four to five on the body whorl, and three on the upper volutions ; these bands are more or less interrupted and broken up by irregular white or yellowish markings; efz- dermts thick; closely indented, and coarsely wrinkled ; whor/s * Besprinkled. HELIX. 115 4-43, convex, body whorl occupying quite two-thirds of the shell ; sfzvre short, apex obtuse ; szfure distinct, but shallow and somewhat oblique; mouth roundish-oval, oblique; outer lip white, moderately thick, considerably reflected ; zzmer /7f a mere film spread on the base of the penultimate whorl; interior of shell with bands corresponding with those on the outside ; zzdz- Zicus hidden in adult specimens, slightly visible in the young. Inhabits gardens, woods, and hedges. This snail, as horticulturists know to their cost, is exceedingly abundant. Gwyn Jeffreys says he has not observed it so far north as Zetland, and I have noticed that in some of the southern and western counties of Scotland it is much less common than in England. Perhaps the northern gardeners, who are celebrated for their skill and industry, have, in some places at least, partially succeeded in stamping it out. It is slow and lazy in its movements, and rather irritable. It secretes an abundance of thick, greenish-yellow slime, which it seldom fails to pour forth copiously when it is provoked. It is very prolific, laying some- times upwards of one hundred eggs. Towards the end of autumn this species is to some extent gregarious. Considerable numbers may then be seen congregated together under large stones, beneath the eaves of houses or sheds, and the coping of walls, as well as in other snug nooks and corners, where, after closing the aperture of their shell with a membranous film (epzphkragm), by means of which they frequently cement themselves to each other, they pass through the rigours of winter in a dormant state, deriving mutual warmth and protection from the close manner in which they have packed themselves together. Onthe return of spring, when they have left [2 116 HELICIDE. their winter quarters, they may frequently be seen crawling about with the discarded epiphragm of their late companions still adhering to their shell. These snails were at one time collected in great quantities in this country, and exposed for sale in the markets, being considered, when boiled in milk, an excel- lent remedy for diseases of the chest. . In Turton’s ‘Manual’ it is stated that “the glassmen at Newcastle once a year have a snail feast (?); they generally collect the snails themselves in the fields and hedges the Sunday before the feast day.” I am informed that this practice is still continued, and although it might probably be difficult to tempt the world in general with the bill of fare, the repast has at any rate the advantage of being an inexpensive one, and besides, “there is no accounting for taste.” | The specific name aspersa, bestowed upon this species by Miiller,-is a Latin word, which literally rendered means besprinkled (as with water). It is not easy to comprehend in what way the appellation is an appro- priate one; perhaps the celebrated German naturalist by a slip of the pen wrote aspersa instead of aspera (rough), which would have been much more descrip- tive of the coarsely wrinkled surface of the shell. Var. 1. albo-fasciata.—Shell reddish-brown with a single white band, &.C. Local, but not uncommon. Var. 2. exalbida, Menke.—Shell yellowish or whitish, local, Norwich (Bridgman), &.C. Bristol (Miss Hele), Cambridge (W. G. Blatch), a colony at Burlington (Hey), F.C. Var. 3. conotdea, Picard.—Shell smaller, more conical and thinner ; mouth smaller. Sandhilis and cliffs on the sea-side, B.C. Var. 4. zenuzs.—Shell dwarfed, extremely thin, and nearly HETLX. 117 transparent, bands reddish-brown. Guernsey, Sark, and Herm. Monstrosities sometimes occur in which the spire is sinistral, or the whorls are disjointed causing the shell to appear like a corkscrew. 5. H. NEMORA'LIS,* LINNE. PL. VII. Body oblong, dark brown bordered with a paler tint, with small, round, thickly set tubercles ; ¢estacles very long, slender, of a dark brown colour, upper pair nearly cylindrical, somewhat diverging, finely but distinctly tuberculated, slightly trans- parent ; u/s globular ; foot angulated in front, tapering to a point behind; ¢zzgual ribbon with 135 rows of 100 teeth = 13,500. Shell globose, compressed beneath, thickish, almost opaque, rather glossy, very variable in colour which ranges from brown to pink and yellow of different depths of shade, occasionally white, with from one to four or five bands which also vary both in breadth and colour, their prevailing tint, however, being brown, sometimes they are altogether wanting ; irregularly and closely striate in the line of growth, as well as more faintly so spirally ; epidermis thinnish; whorls 5-53, rounded ; sfzre short, apex obtuse ; suture shallow ; mouth obliquely semilunar ; outer lip thick, reflected, of a deep chocolate-brown inside, where it is furnished with a strong rib of the same colour; zuzmer lip ex- tremely thin, chocolate or reddish-brown ; wsmdzlicus hidden, except in young specimens. Inhabits groves and shady places, as well as gar- dens and hedgerows, in all parts of Great Britain. It is more hardy and less timid than most members of the genus, and one of the prettiest and best known of our land shells. It affords a dainty repast to the thrush and blackbird, which are in the habit of breaking the shell by hammering it against an adja- cent rock or stone, around which small heaps of * Living in groves. 118 HELI CHO. fragments may frequently be seen. Considerable difference of opinion prevails among conchologists as to whether the forms hortenszs and hybrida should be regarded as distinct species, or as varieties only. Gwyn Jeffreys believes them to be “ merely local or casual varieties” of the typical form memoralis, and states (as one of the reasons which lead him to this conclusion) that he has “never found any two of these forms living together,” B.C, vol. i. p. 188. In his supplement, however, he somewhat modifies this assertion, remarking that he has since found xemoralis and hortensis “living together, but passing one into the other.” That these forms very frequently asso- ciate together is a fact well known to most concho- logists ; but whether the characters which distinguish them from one another are specific or merely varietal is another question. It was stated in the preface to this volume that I proposed to follow the accom- plished author of ‘British Conchology’ in the method of arrangement, as well as in the nomenclature which he has adopted, and as I am anxious to avoid the confusion which any deviation from that intention might produce, I have described and figured hortensis and hybrida as varieties of mxemoralis, though I strongly incline to the belief that Zortenszs at least is a distinct species. The following remarks embody the chief reasons which lead me to this conclusion. The greater part of the spring and summer of last year (1878) was spent by me in Normandy, where £1, nemoralis, hortensis, and aspersa, as well as many other species, occur in endless profusion. An un- usually favourable opportunity was thus afforded me HELIX, 119 of observing them during the pairing season, at which time they are in the habit of ascending trees, often (as nearly as I could judge) to a height of from twenty to forty feet, or even higher. The trees usually selected were those growing on the outskirts of woods, in hedgerows by the wayside, or in shady lanes. The beech, ash, and other trees with smooth bark were generally preferred, and although by far the greater number of the molluscs were located on the trunk, others crawled out upon the branches ; aspersa, nemoralis, and hortensis were all of the party, and hybrida, though much less numerously repre- sented, was also present, but I failed to detect a single instance in which it had. paired. A. aspersa was less ambitious than its neighbours, and rarely ventured upon an ascent exceeding twenty feet in height. In one locality the trees on either side of a long avenue of beeches were decked with shells. On one of them I counted twenty “happy couples,” twelve of which were ortenszs, and the rest xemoralts. My object in making this investigation was to deter- mine, if possible, whether matrimonial alliances be- tween these two forms are usual or not, and the result was that among the many hundreds of cases which came under my observation not a single instance of such union occurred—the “black-mouths ” invariably paired with “black-mouths,” and “white-mouths ” with “white-mouths.” These observations were not confined to a single locality, but were made in many places some miles apart, and in order to determine with certainty the species of those individuals which were high up in the trees, I used a pair of powerful 120 HELICTDEE. field glasses, which enabled me at once to distinguish between the different forms. Var. 1. hortensis.—Shell more globular, and usually smaller, mouth and rib white, common. Var. 2. hybrida.—Shell smaller, mouth and rib pink or brown, more local. Var. 3. major.—Shell much larger and more depressed. Sand- hills and downs, Isle of Arran, Co. Galway, B.C. Var. 4. mznor.—Shell much smaller, otherwise like horéenszs. Zetland (Barlee), Loch Carron, Rosshire (J. G. J.), B.C. Besides these varieties, monstrosities occasionally occur; in some cases the whorls are much produced, or even separated, in others the spire is reversed. 6ii. ARBUSTORUM,* ‘LINNE.. PE WIE Body very glossy, as if coated with moist varnish, bluish-black or dark olive-green, thickly covered with coarse tubercles which are oblong when the animal is extended and roundish when it is at rest; ¢eztacles slender, upper pair considerably divided at their base, gradually tapering, bulbs globular, tumid; lower tentacles very wide apart ; foof slaty-grey, its margins grooved, ending in a rounded or bluntly pointed tail. Shell globose, somewhat compressed below, moderately solid, glossy, scarcely semitransparent, yellowish-brown, dappled and streaked with markings of a pale yellow or straw-colour and usually having a dark brown band which encircles the centre of the body whorl and the base of the upper volutions ; with strong irregular ridges in the line of growth which are crossed by fine, close-set, spiral strize; efzdermzs thinnish ; whorls 5-6, convex, body whorl occupying about two-thirds of the shell; sfzre usually somewhat depressed, apex obtuse; sfure deepish ; mouth forming about two-thirds of an oval; outer lip white, thick, reflected, usually furnished with a slight internal rib of the same colour; zzuzer /zp thinly spread on the base of the penultimate whorl ; zszdzlzcus very small, oblique, nearly hidden by the reflection of the outer lip. * Living in copses. AELIX, I2I Inhabits shady places in woods and hedgerows and damp spots by the side of rivers, among willows, alders, &c. Although widely distributed over Great Britain, this is a local species. It is lazy in its move- ments and somewhat irritable. When crawling it carries its shell in a slanting position. The epiphragm is extremely thin. Var. 1. flavescens.—Shell yellowish-white, usually bandless, not uncommon. Var. 2. major.—Shell larger, sfzre considerably depressed, various localities. Var. 3. alpestris, Ziegler.—Shell much smaller, sfzve more produced. Hoddesden, Herts, on marshes by the side of the River Lea (Pickering), &.C. Near Banbury, Oxfordshire (D. Pidgeon), 7.C., vol. i. p. 56. Var. 4. fusca, Férussac.—Shell dark brown, with or without the band, very thin and transparent. Luna, East Zetland, B.C. Var. 5. albida.—Shell white, found by Mr. Whitwham of Huddersfield, near Settle, Yorkshire (fide J. W. Taylor, Ed. FC), Monstrosities occasionally occur, having the spire reversed, or sometimes much produced. 7. H. CANTIA'NA,* MONTAGU. PL. VIII. Body oblong, of a pale yellowish colour faintly tinged with pink in front, closely covered with greyish tubercles ; tentacles long, upper pair brownish or bluish-grey, widely diverging, thickish at their base, gradually tapering towards the bulbs which are rather small and yellowish at their tips; lower pair paler in colour; /oof slightly truncate in front; Zaz/ tumid, angular, keeled, with grooved margins ; /émzgual ribbon with 125 rows of 81 teeth = 10,125. Shell subglobose, somewhat compressed above and below, rather thin and brittle, semitransparent, somewhat glossy, pale * Kentish, 122 HELICIDE. white with a faint yellowish tinge, the body whorl is usually more or less tinted with rufous or fawn-colour, and generally encircled by a faint white line placed a little above thé periphery ; with close-set, irregular, curved strize in the line of growth ; epzdermzs thin and somewhat wrinkled ; whorls 6-7, convex, body whorl occupying rather more than half of the shell, much rounded, not keeled ; sfzve short, apex obtuse; suture deepish ; mouth oblique, forming about three-fourths of an oval, with an internal white or sometimes pinkish rib placed a little away from the margin ; outer lip thin, slightly reflected, folding over where it joins the pillar ; wzz2bz/icus narrow, but deep. Inhabits grassy banks in hedgerows and copses, chiefly in the home and southern counties of Eng- land. It also occurs in Yorkshire and Northumber- land, as well as in some parts of Wales; but it has not been observed in Scotland, and it is doubtful whether it has been found in Ireland. It is sluggish and irritable, and secretes an abund- ance of transparent slime. The shell is inclined to one side when the animal is crawling. It lays from sixty to ninety globular eggs, which are deposited in moist places. “It hibernates from November to February, and forms an epiphragm like a film of the finest blown plass,” JBiC., vol. i. p. 191. -In’ the earlier Stages ton its growth the epidermis is clothed with short bristles, which are deciduous. 8.. H. -‘CARTUSIA'’NA,* MULLER, PLO Vie Body slender, moderately transparent, yellowish, faintly tinged, especially in front, with pale rose-colour, tubercles thickly set and finely dotted with brown ; Zezzacles long, yellowish, trans- * So named because it was first discovered near a Carthusian monastery. FIELTX. 123 parent, and greyish at their base, upper pair very slender, covered with small tubercles, lower pair diverging at their base, rather thick; bulbs small; foo¢ roundish in front; tapering gradually towards the tail. Shell subconic, considerably depressed above, slightly rounded underneath, thicker, less transparent and glossy than the last species, of a greyish or yellowish white colour faintly tinged with pale brown, with a milk-white spiral band placed slightly above the periphery, irregularly striate in the line of growth and very faintly so ina spiral direction, especially near the um- bilicus ; body whorl closely but indistinctly pitted ; efzdermzs thinnish ; whorls 6-7, body whorl occupying about half of the shell ; periphery faintly keeled ; sfzre depressed, apex slightly acute ; suture deepish ; mouth forming about two-thirds of an oval, with a broadish white internal rib ; ouzer /zp thin, scarcely reflected, except over the umbilicus ; wmzbzlicus very small, nearly hidden by the reflection of the outer lip. Inhabits the downs of Kent and Sussex, near the sea-coast abundantly, on grass and other plants. It is a sluggish and irritable creature, but rather hardy, and it does not seem to be inconvenienced by the heat of the sun; its shell is carried in a slanting position when the animal is in motion. The shell is much smaller than that of the last species, more solid, less transparent, and the umbilicus is considerably smaller. Var. rufilabris, Jeffr—Shell smaller, with inside rib of a red- dish brown colour. Lewes and Littlehampton, B.C. 9, H.. RUFES’CENS,*. PENNANT. PE VERE Body of a dusky ash-colour, or brown, occasionally blackish, tubercles prominent; /ezfacles greyish ash-colour, upper pair long and slender ; lower pair very short ; foot narrow, of a pale ash-colour beneath. Shell subconic, depressed above, somewhat convex beneath, * Reddish. 124 HELICIDE. thick, scarcely semitransparent, of a dullish aspect, varying in colour from ash-grey to rufous-brown, sometimes streaked with darker or paler markings, and usually having a white band round the centre of the body whorl; with close-set, irregular | strize in the line of growth; periphery bluntly keeled ; efzdermis moderately thick ; z/orls 6-7, body whorl occupying about half of the shell ; sfzve short, apex obtuse ; swture deepish ; mouth oblique, semilunar, with a strong white internal rib which is situated a little away from the margin; ouzer /ip thickish, some- what reflected ; wszdz/icus rather narrow, but deep. Inhabits most parts of Great Britain, in woods, gardens, and hedgerows, on grass at the foot of walls, among nettles, and under logs of wood and stones. It is one of the most abundant of our land shells; its colour is very variable. The epidermis of young specimens is clothed with short hairs, which are shed as the animals advance towards maturity. The eggs of this species vary in number from forty to fifty and are laid during the months of August, September, and October; the young are hatched in from twenty to twenty-five days. Var. 1. alotda.—Shell white or colourless. Not uncommon. Var. 2. minor.—Shell smaller, spire more raised. Not un- common. Monstrosities sometimes occur. 10, H. CONCIN'NA,* JEFFREYS. PL. VITI “ Body lustrous, reddish-brown, minutely tubercled or granu- lated; ¢eztacles of a lighter colour, upper pair longer and more slender than in the next species (17. Azsfzda) ; lower ones very short ; foot narrow, of a greyish colour on its sides and soles. “¢ Shell subconic, compressed on both sides, rather solid for its size, but semitransparent, somewhat glossy, light ash-grey, with * Neat. HELIX. 125 occasional faint streaks of reddish-brown, giving the shell a prettily mottled appearance; there is also frequently on the last whorl a white spiral band like that in A. rufescens; the surface also is transversely striate as in that species; periphery obtusely and indistinctly keeled; efzdermzs rather thick, sparsely covered with short white hairs, which are easily rubbed off ; whorls 6-7, compact, rather depressed above and slightly con- vex beneath, the last scarcely occupying one-third of the shell ; spire short and blunt ; swfure deep ; mouth obliquely semilunar, considerably higher than broad, furnished inside with a sharp white rib, which becomes thicker towards the umbilicus, and is placed near the opening ; outer /zp not very thin in adult speci- mens, and somewhat reflected; wsdzlicus rather broad, open and deep. “Habitat, under stones among nettles and the Arum macu- Zatum, as well as at the roots of grass in moist places; generally distributed.”—&.C., vol. i. pp. 196-7. As this shell is indebted to the author of ‘ British Conchology’ for its name as well as its title to rank as a species, I have transcribed the above minute description which he has given of it. Much diversity of opinion prevails among concholo- gists as to whether it is a distinct species, or a variety of Hf. hispida, and Gwyn Jeffreys himself confesses that at one time, after having described it in the ‘Transactions’ of the Linnean Society, “he had some misgivings as to its being distinct from some of the numerous varieties of HY. hispida.” I incline to the belief that his misgivings were well-founded, because I think the two forms are “so intimately blended together by intermediate links as to make the line of separation too critical” (Introduction to ‘ British Con- chology,’ p. xvii.); but whether it be regarded as a species or a variety, it differs from HZ. hispida in the following respects : the body of the animal is usually 126 AETICIDZ. darker in colour, the upper tentacles are more slender, and the foot narrower; the shell is more depressed and glossy, the umbilicus wider, and the hairs with which the epidermis is clothed are less numerous and more easily rubbed off. Although the shell is much smaller than that of the typical form of AZ. rufescens, it bears a close resemblance to small specimens of that species. Var. 1. albida.—Shell white, with specimens of the usual colour; 4.C. . Var. 2. mzinor.—Shell smaller, and also white; spire more depressed than usual. South of Ireland (Dillwyn), Bath (Clark), Dover (J. (G.4.);2.C, 11, iL Bis PipaA.* LinNe. PE VIE Body oblong, of a darkish slaty-brown above, greyish-brown beneath, sides whitish, rather transparent, tubercles round, covered with milk-white specks ; ¢e¢acles thick, nearly cylin- drical, diverging at their base, bulbs rather transparent ; foot finely spotted with black, rounded in front, narrowing towards the tail, which is keeled and bluntly pointed. Shell subconic, slightly compressed beneath, thin, somewhat transparent, scarcely glossy, horn-coloured or dark yellowish- brown, sometimes with a line of paler colour round the centre of the body whorl; irregularly and finely striate transversely ; periphery rounded, rarely, and never strongly, keeled ; epzder- mis thick, clothed with close-set bristles, which are recurved and not easily rubbed off ; whorls 6-7, rounded ; sfzre some- what produced, apex obtuse ; swtuve deep ; mouth semilunar, somewhat oblique, usually furnished with an internal rib ; ozdzer lip thin, not reflected, except near the wmzbzlzcws, which is small, but deep. Inhabits every part of Great Britain, in woods, hedges, and other places, among moss, under stones, * Bristly. FIETAX. 127 and fallen branches of trees. This very variable and common species is, according to the Rev. Revett Sheppard, amphibious, being “ frequently found some feet below the surface of water, on stakes and piles, which it ascends and descends at pleasure.” As it is an extremely irritable little creature it may perhaps resort to this expedient for the purpose of cooling its temper. Between the months of April and September it lays about forty eggs, which are white, opaque, and of a globular form; the young are excluded in from twenty to twenty-five days. Var. 1. subrufa.—Shell reddish-brown, and more solid, with a strong labial rib, not uncommon in dry situations, B.C. Var. 2. albida.—Shell thinner, white or colourless. In osier-beds, as well as on the limestone at Kendal, B.C. Near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), near Ackworth, Yorkshire (C. Ashford), F.C. Var. 3. conica.— Shell smaller, spire more raised. Sandhills near Swansea, B.C. Var. 4. zana.—Shell much smaller, but with a strong labial rib; spire depressed. Freshwater, Isle of Wight (Metcalfe), B.C. Var. 5. subglobosa.—Shell more globular, and much thinner, horn-colour or white ; zszdzlzcus very small. Northumberland and Durham (Alder), Hammersmith, Plymouth, Brocklesby, Lincolnshire (J. G. J.), B.C. Lichfield (Rev. J. McMurtrie). 12. H. SERT'CEA,* MULLER: “PR Body brownish, or yellowish-grey, with close-set tubercles ; tentacles rather long, diverging at their base, of an iron-grey colour ; «pper fazr rather thick at the base, finely granulated ; bulbs much swollen, especially below ; lower tentacles paler and more transparent than the upper pair; fvo¢ somewhat raised at the sides, broad, light yellowish-grey. * Silky. 128 HELICTD A, Shell subglobular, thin, semitransparent, slightly glossy, of a pale grey, or yellowish horn-colour, sometimes streaked with faint lines of a darker colour, faintly striate in the line of growth; ferzphery rounded, not keeled; efzdermzs thickish, closely covered with fine, white, silky hairs, which do not easily rub off; whorls 6, tumid; sfzre produced, apex obtuse ; suture moderately deep; south semilunar, occasionally with a slight white internal rib; ozdzer lif thin, slightly reflected ; umbilicus deep, but very small. Inhabits woods and hedgerows among moss, in many places from the north of Scotland to Cornwall, as well asin some parts of Wales, but it is a local species. It is a timid little animal, and when crawling carries its shell in a slanting position. It differs from Ff, hispida in being more globular and of a lighter colour, in having a more produced spire and thicker coating of hairs, and more particularly in being alto- eether destitute of a keel. Var. cornea.—Shell horn-colour, very thin, glossy, and semi- transparent; the labial rib perceptible on the outside. Lul- worth (Jeffreys), B.C. 13. Hi REVELA TA,” MICHAUD, PE WIT “Body pale yellowish-grey, sometimes having a reddish or dusky hue, closely tubercled ; #zaz¢/Ze yellowish-brown, minutely speckled with brown and milk-white ; ¢ezfacles rather thick and long, of a dirty grey colour faintly tinged with violet or brown; the upper ones finely granulated, with globular bulbs; foot rounded in front, triangular and keeled behind; sides marked with transverse furrows.”—B.C., vol. 1. p. 202. Shell subglobose, depressed above, thin, semitransparent, somewhat glossy, of a pale olive-green, surface finely granu- lated, and irregularly wrinkled in the line of growth, especially near the suture and umbilicus ; Jerzphery rounded ; epidermis * Discovered. HELIX. 129 thickish, sparsely clothed with short whitish hairs; whorls 4-43, very tumid, body whorl occupying about two-thirds of the shell; sfzve very slightly produced, apex obtuse; sature very deep; south forming about three-fourths of a circle; outer lip thin, very little reflected, except near the wmdzlicus, which is small and shallow. Inhabits downs near the sea-coast, among loose stones and at the roots of grass and other plants in the Channel Islands, as well as similar places in a few of the southern counties of England. The following localities are given for it in ‘ British Conchology ’:— Torquay, Plymouth, Megavissey, Pendennis, Land’s End, and Scilly Isles. Mr. E. J. Lowe says he has found it in woods at Stanton-on-the-Wolds, Notting- hamshire. Captain Brown, in his ‘ Illustrations of the Recent Conchology of Great Britain,’ laid claim to having first discovered it on the Lomond Hills in Fifeshire, and he described it in the first edition of that work under the namé of V72trina membranacea. Subsequent writers do not seem, however, to have credited him with the discovery. It was first observed in Guernsey by the late Professor Edward Forbes, and Dr. Gray, to whom he had given some living speci- mens, described it as a British species in 1840. In Guernsey the range of this interesting mollusc seems to be chiefly confined to the southern end of the island, where, though local, it occurs in some abund- ance. It is gregarious, and I found it more plenti- fully than elsewhere in hollows on slopes, where small pieces of disintegrated rock had slipped from above, and were piled together in masses. A small species of sorrel (Rumex acetosella, I think) grows plentifully K 130 HELICIDE. among the loose stones, and probably affords a favourite repast to A. revelata, which congregated in some numbers about its roots. 14... FUSCA,? MONTAGU, (Pr Via. Body elongate, yellowish-grey tinged with violet, finely speckled with black above, tubercles small, irregularly placed ; ¢eztacles long, thick at the base, very slightly transparent, bluish-grey slightly tinged with violet ; Zower tentacles more diverging at the base than the upper ones ; bulbs small, nearly globular ; foot long, narrow, its edges of a bluish tint. Shell subconical, somewhat compressed, very thin, nearly membranous, transparent, glossy, pale yellowish-brown or light horn-colour, with strong irregular wrinkles in the line of growth; periphery rounded, slightly keeled; efzdermzs somewhat thick; whorls 5-5%, body whorl occupying a little more than half of the shell; sfzre somewhat produced, apex obtuse; suture rather shallow; mouth semilunar, somewhat oblique; outer (ip rather thin, reflected over the #mbzlicus which is exceedingly small. Inhabits woods and hedgerows, as well as grassy banks, among nettles, brambles, and ferns, in many parts of Great Britain, but it isa local species. I have frequently seen it feeding upon the tender leaves of young alders and poplar trees. It is exceedingly hardy. In the ‘ Quarterly Journal of Conchology,’ vol. i. p. 180, Mr. Charles Ashford makes the following interesting remarks on the habits of this species. “On Christmas day a few winters ago I was walking through Saltram Wood, three miles from Plymouth, when I noticed two individuals of A. fusca upon the herbage of the bank. As the weather was cold I was rather surprised to find this species abroad while its * Dusky brown. TIE ELX. 131 more thickly clad congeners were hibernating below the surface. The temperature fell considerably during the next few days, and I visited the spot repeatedly to find, if possible, the limit to the endurance of this slender mollusc. The following notes from my memoranda at the time will best show the result. Dec. 26th, the thermometer at early morning registered 26°, and the herbage was fringed with sparkling crystals of rime, notwithstanding which the little creatures were abroad and lively, crawling up the blades of the Great Hairy Woodrush (Luzzéla sylvatica) not simply indifferent to a temperature which be- numbed my own extremities, but positively agile. Dec. 27th, min. temp. 28". Dec. 28th, min. tempo gare this morning fH. fusca still about and vigorous. Nec. 2Gth, temp. 25°. Dec. 30th, temp. 32°: aftessam hour’s search I found only one individual. Dec. 31st, temp. 26°: none to be seen. The frost continued without intermission throughout the first week of the new year, during which time on the occasion of two visits to the same and neighbouring spots I failed to find it about, nor could I discover any at the roots of the Luzula. Jan. oth, milder: A. fusca again abroad, and more abundantly on the roth. It appears then that a continuance of a temperature below freezing point for six successive days was necessary to drive to its retreat a mollusc protected by a shell so thin as to be almost membranous, and that, on the slightest return to warmer weather, the circulation of the animal sufficiently increased to enable it to resume activity.” Moquin-Tandon says that the members of this K 2 132 ABLICTEZE. species congregate in social groups, when they may be seen polishing each other’s shells with their slimy foot. r:4H/ PISA NA* MULLER? > PE ws Body slightly transparent, yellowish-grey above with a reddish tint in front, brownish-yellow beneath, closely tuberculate ; zez- tacles yellowish-grey, very finely shagreened, rather slender, except at the base where they are broad and somewhat diverging, bulbs globular, darkish red ; foot somewhat truncate in front, gradually narrowing to a point behind, and not keeled; 4énxgual ribbon with 120 rows of 71 teeth = 8520. Shell subglobular, slightly depressed above, rounded beneath, solid, nearly opaque, somewhat glossy, cream-coloured, encircled with chocolate-brown bands which vary in number, and marked, especially on the upper volutions, with dots and irregular blotches of the same colour, which give to the shell an elegantly mottled appearance, with irregular strize in the line of growth, which are crossed by finer and closer lines causing the surface of the shell to be finely reticulated ; Jerzphery rounded: efzdermis scarcely visible; whorls 5-53, convex, but flattened at their summits, body whorl occupying about two-thirds of the shell; sfzre some- what produced, apex obtuse and of a brownish colour tinged with violet ; mouth forming about three-fourths of a circle, inside usually pink or rose-colour, and furnished with a slight rib; outer lip thickish, somewhat reflected near to, and more so over the zmzbzlicus which is very small and oblique, Inhabits sandhills and other places near the sea, at Tenby and Manorbeer in Pembrokeshire, St. Ives and Whitsand Bay, Cornwall, Balbriggan Strand in Dublin Bay, and in Jersey. It also occurs at Vazon Bay in Guernsey where Mr. Lukis in 1860 placed some specimens which he had brought from Jersey ; the colony is reported to be thriving, and if un- * It was first found at Pisa. FELIX, 133 molested, AH. Pzsana will probably ere long be as abundant in Guernsey as it is in the neighbouring island. In ‘British Conchology,’ vol. i. p. 208, Gwyn Jeffreys remarks that “the limited range of this species in Great Britain is unaccountable ;” he also says that he made two unsuccessful attempts to colonize it on the sandhills near Swansea, “by bringing a basketful of live specimens from Tenby, a distance of only about thirty miles,” and spreading them over the Burrows, and that, “although they seemed at first to thrive tolerably well in the new locality, they did not multiply, and the birds soon ate up the immigrants.” During the autumn of 1874, being in the neighbourhood of Swansea, I visited the Burrows and was much pleased to find that his colony, instead of being extinct, had increased immensely. The foreign distribution of this extremely beautiful shell is by no means confined to the sea-board; it occurs abundantly in the centre of France and Spain; the fact of its range in this country being limited to a few places on the sea-coast is therefore suggestive of the idea that it may have been originally brought over in ballast from the Continent, or perhaps from Jersey. This species seems to be totally regardless of the unpleasant consequences of a coup-de-soleil, it may frequently be seen clinging to plants which its voracity has rendered all but shelterless, unconscious, appa- rently, of the scorching rays of a mid-day summer sun. Var. alba.—Shell pale yellowish-white, or snow-white, with or without translucent markings, B.C. 134 HELICID 2, i6,-H.. VIRGA TA DA Costa, Pr Via Body whitish with a tinge of pink or yellow, tubercles large, round ; ¢eztacles dark grey, cylindro-conic, thickish, ~pfer air rather close together, /ower fair considerably diverging ; bulbs globular, reddish, spotted with brown at the base; foot broadly rounded in front, gradually narrowing behind, tail of a pale pinkish-white, obtuse at the tip. Shell conical, globose, rather solid, nearly opaque, somewhat glossy, white or cream-colour, usually with a dark brown band which encircles the base of the upper volutions, and gradually widening, is continued round the body whorl immediately above the periphery, at the base of the shell there are also other bands of a similar colour, which vary from three to seven in number; rather coarsely and irregularly striate in the line of growth ; periphery rounded ; epidermis indistinct; whorls 6, convex, their summits slightly depressed, body whorl occupying more than half of the shell ; sfz~e produced, apex brownish, glossy ; mouth forming three-fourths of a circle, inside with a reddish- brown rib; ozter if moderately thin, reflected near to and over the wmbzlicus, which is narrow but deep. Inhabits downs, sandhills, and heaths in many places in England as far north as “Alnmouth in Northumberland ” (McMurtrie), also in Wales, Ireland, and the Channel Islands, but it does not seem to have been found in Scotland. The shell of this species is very variable in its size, colour, and markings ; sometimes the bands are inter- rupted or broken up, giving a mottled appearance to the surface, occasionally they are altogether wanting. In young specimens the periphery is somewhat sharply keeled. The animals of this species are gregarious, and though they are found in some of the inland counties, their favourite habitat is near the sea-coast. In loca- * Striped, HEETX, 135 lities such as the South Downs, Dartmoor, and Corn- wall, they occur in endless profusion, so that the sheep, when feeding upon the short grass, cannot possibly avoid devouring them in vast numbers; the excellency of the South Down and Dartmoor mutton has conse- quently, with much show of reason, been partly attri- buted to the very nutritive food thus afforded to the sheep. Some of the inhabitants, the shepherds espe- cially, of the above-named localities, implicitly believe that these snails descend in showers from the clouds, and they are indignant when a stranger smiles in- credulously on hearing their wondrous tale. This notion owes its origin, no doubt, to the fact that, after a shower of rain, the hérbage on tracts of country extending for miles, is suddenly, as if by magic, alive with millions of the molluscs, which had previously concealed themselves at its roots. ff, virgata is very hardy and does not seem to hibernate. Moquin-Tandon says that it lays from thirty to sixty eggs during the autumn. Var. 1. subaperta.—Shell of a whiter hue; sfzve more de- pressed ; zmbzlicus wider. Bath (Clark), B.C. Var. 2. sudglobosa.—Shell smaller with a double band above the periphery, last whorl larger in proportion to the others, umbilicus wider. Bantry Bay and St. Mawes near Falmouth (J. G. J.), B.C. Black Rock, Tenby (G. Sherriff Tye), F.C. Var 3. submaritima, Des Moulins.—Shell much smaller and more deeply coloured, often with a violet tinge ; sfzre raised. Braunton Burrows in North Devon, and Swansea Burrows (J. G. J.), Isle of Wight (Pickering), B.C. Tenby (G. Sherriff Tye), 7.C. Clevedon (McMurtrie). Var. 4. carinata.—Shell yellowish-white, compressed above ; periphery strongly keeled. Wingfrith near Wareham (Daniel), B.C. 136 HELICIDE. The Rev. J. McMurtrie has kindly sent me specimens of a pretty white variety in which the bands are trans- lucent ; it occurs at Alnmouth. Monstrosities with the whorls more or less separated or the spire reversed occur sometimes. 17, AH} CAPERA'TA,*: MONTAGU: PED VEEL Body ash-colour with a yellowish tinge and streaked with brown, tubercles rather large, thick set, tipped with black ; tentacles long, rather slender, dusky, bulbs nearly globular ; foot somewhat truncate in front, terminating in an obtusely pointed tail ; 2zxzgual ribbon with 80 rows of 51 teeth = 4080. Shell subconical, compressed, solid, nearly opaque, very slightly glossy, whitish or cream-colour, usually with a brown band which encircles the body whorl immediately above the periphery and the base of the upper volutions, below it there are generally from two to seven narrower bands of the same colour ; the sculpture consists of numerous strong, close-set, ridge-like striae in the line of growth, which intersect the bands and impart to the surface of the shell a mottled appearance ; periphery obtusely keeled ; epidermis thin; whorls 6, gradually increasing ; sfzre slightly produced, apex usually brown; sz¢ure deepish ; mouth forming about three-fourths of a circle, somewhat oblique, inside with a strong white rib; owter /zp rather thin, slightly reflected near to, and more so over, the zszbz/zcus which is rather large and deep. Inhabits most parts of Great Britain, especially in dry, sandy soils, at the roots, and on the stalks of grasses and other plants, as well as under stones. This, like the last species, varies considerably in size, colour, and markings; it is inactive and timid. Ac- cording to Bouchard-Chantereaux it lays during the months of August and September from thirty-five to forty eggs of an opaque white colour; the young are ™ * Wrinkled. AR ETX. 137 hatched after the lapse of from fifteen to twenty days, and attain their full size at the end of the following year. This species may at once be distinguished from H. virgata by the strong rib-like strize with which its surface is closely covered, as well as by its more depressed spire and larger umbilicus. Var. I. major.—Shell larger. Norwich (Bridgman); Surrey (Choules), &.C. Tenby occasionally, and near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), ¥.C. North Berwick abundant (McMutrtrie). Var. 2. ornata, Picard.—Shell smaller with broader and darker bands. Sandy coasts of North and South Wales, South Devon, and Cork (J. G. J.) B.C. Near Birmingham, Tenby, (G. Sherriff Tye), ¥.C. Bristol, Carnforth, Lancashire, Aln- mouth, Northumberland (McMurtrie). Var. 3. subscalarts—Shell conical, whorls more convex. Cork (Humphreys), Swansea (J. G. J.), B.C. Tenby (G. Sherriff ve) ce. Var. 4. Gigaxtz, Charpentier.—Shell rather smaller; sfzve more depressed, umbilicus consequently larger. Sandwich and Falmouth, &.C. Koy da. ERICITO'RUM,*. MULLER... -PEVvaee Body yellowish-grey or reddish-brown, tubercles colourless and thickly set; /¢eztacles rather long, thickish, granulated, somewhat transparent, yellowish-grey, bulbs rather swollen beneath, rounded at the points ; foot slightly angular in front, tapering to an obtuse point behind, margined with a slender grey line; “éngual ribbon with 115 rows of 61 teeth = 7015. Shell considerably depressed, somewhat thin, scarcely semi- transparent, rather glossy, greyish or whitish, the base of the upper volutions is usually encircled by a broadish chestnut-brown band which is continued round the body whorl a little above the periphery, and beneath it there are from two to six narrower bands of the same colour ; with slight but distinct striz in the line of growth, and frequently marked with irregular indenta- * Inhabiting heaths. 138 HELICIDE. tions ; periphery rounded ; epidermis thin ; whorls 6; spire very slightly produced, apex obtuse, brownish ; suture deep ; mouth forming three-fourths of a circle, somewhat oblique, sometimes furnished with a slight internal rib ; owter Jz thickish, slightly reflected ; wabzlicus very wide and deep. Inhabits heaths and downs, especially when the soil is dry or sandy, in many parts of Great Britain, but it is rather local. It is a slothful, timid, and irri- table creature, and retreats within its shell the instant itis touched. It feeds upon various plants, and seems to be very partial to thistles. Var. 1. alba, Charpentier.—Shell milk-white, not uncommon with the type. Var. 2. minor.—Shell smaller. Kendal (J. G. J.), B.C. Var. 3. zustabilis——Shell smaller, of a darker colour and sometimes streaked or spotted; sfzre more raised, umbilicus narrower. H. zustabilis, Ziegler. lona (Lowe), Mull (Bedford), Connemara (J. G. J.), 2.C. Monst. s¢zzstrorsa.— Spire reversed. Bridlington (Strickland), B.C. FO) A ROTUNDA'TA,” MULLER. (Pi. Vie Body slender, slaty-grey, sides paler, finely spotted with black, tubercles large but not prominent, roundish, flattened ; ¢enzacles dark slaty-grey spotted with black, upper parr rather close together at the base, bulbs short, rounded at the tips: lower tentacles diverging, very short and thick and more transparent than the upper ones ; foot rather slender, rounded in front, nar- rowing behind and ending in an obtusely pointed tail. Shell compressed, especially below, somewhat thin, scarcely semitransparent, slightly glossy, yellowish horn-colour, with broadish, regularly placed, transverse markings of a reddish- brown colour, and with close-set curved ridges in the line of growth, except on the first whorl which is nearly smooth ; Zerz- phery obtusely keeled; efzdermzs moderately thick; whorls, * Rounded. HELIX. 139 6-7, gradually increasing ; sfzre slightly produced, apex glossy ; suture very deep ; mouth semilunar, rather oblique, in full-grown specimens furnished witha white internal rib ; ow¢er /if not very thick, scarcely reflected ; wszdz/zcus very large and deep. Inhabits all parts of Great Britain, under stones and fallen timber, as well as among moss and dead leaves in woods and hedgerows. It is inactive and very timid. During the breeding season, which ex- tends from May to September, it only lays from twenty to thirty eggs, so that it is much less prolific than most of its congeners. When crawling it carries its shell in an upright position. Var 1. mznor.—Shell smaller. Gwyn Jeffreys says this variety “appears to be an Alpine form. I have found it not only in Zetland, and on the Juraand Swiss Alps, but also in Guernsey.” —B.C., vol. i. p. 219. Var. 2. Ayramidalis——Shell subconical ; sfzre more raised. Swansea and other places (J. G. J.), B.C. Dudley Castle (G. Sherriff Tye), 7.C. Ayr, Bristol (McMurtrie). _ Var. 3. Yurtonz, Fleming.—Shell greatly depressed above and below, sfzve nearly flat. Dublin (Turton), Bath (Clark), Bristol, and Dunboy in Bantry Bay (J.G.J.), 2.C. Edinburgh (McMutrtrie). Var. alba, Moquin-Tandon.—Shell pale-yellowish white or with a greenish tinge. This beautiful variety is rare and local, but it seems to have a wide range. The following are some of the localities given for it. Cleveden, near Bristol (Norman), near Birmingham (G. Sherriff Tye), near Wakefield (fide J. Hebden), near Croydon (R. R.), Church Stretton, and near Loch Awe (McMutrtrie), Leeds (Nelson), Perthshire (Buchanan White). Gwyn Jeffreys remarks that “this species may be the long-lost HY. gothica of Linné.” 140 Hi EEICIOZE. 20, HH. RUBES TRIS, STUDER. iow lie Body somewhat oblong, of a dark slaty-grey, or dusky-red colour, with very small, flat tubercles ; wDper tentacles dark grey, somewhat diverging, nearly cylindrical, thin ; dz/bs large, nearly oval; dower tentacles almost rudimentary, blackish, considerably diverging ; foot broadish, rounded in front, ending in an obtusely pointed tail. Shell subconical, somewhat compressed below, rather solid, semitransparent, not very glossy, of a darkish brown colour, with strongish, close-set, curved strize in the line of growth ; periphery rounded in adult, obtusely angulated in immature specimens ; epidermis thinnish ; whorls 5, gradually increasing, their summits slightly depressed ; sfzve somewhat produced, apex polished ; suture very deep ; mouth forming three-fourths of a circle, some- what compressed above; ouéer lip thin, scarcely reflected ; um- bilicus large and deep. Inhabits crevices in rocks and walls, usually in elevated situations, in most parts of Great Britain. It is an inactive and timid creature, but very hardy, and capable of enduring alike the cold of winter and the burning rays of the sun in summer. It is gregarious and ovoviviparous. The shell, owing to its exposure to the sun, as well as to “wind and weather,” is often bleached ; the animal when crawling carries it in an upright position. Var. viridescenti-alba——Shell greenish-white. Clifton near Bristol (Webster), Clevedon, Somersetshire (Norman), B.C. 21. H. PYGMAA,T DRAPARNAUD, PL? VILE Body oblong, rather slender, darkish brown or slaty-grey, with small black specks, tubercles round, flattened; ‘entacles very slightly diverging, cylindrical, thickish at the base, bulbs * Living among rocks. + Tiny. HELIX. TAI scarcely perceptible ; foot pale slaty-grey, rather slender and slightly rounded in front, thick, keeled, and obtusely pointed behind. Shell depressed, thin, moderately glossy, semitransparent, pale brownish horn-colour, with very fine, close-set, curved strize in the line of growth ; periphery rounded ; epzdermezs thinnish ; whorls 4, gradually increasing ; sfzre slightly produced, apex glossy ; suture deep ; mouth forming three-fourths of a circle; outer lip thin, inflected above and below; zwmdzlicus rather large, deep. Inhabits moist woods and other damp situations, among decaying leaves, under stones, and at the roots and on the stalks of grass and other plants, in many parts of the country from Ross-shire to the Channel Islands. This is the smallest of our British Helices ; some conchologists have considered it to be the young of HZ. rupestris, but in addition to its being easily dis- tinguishable from that species by its thinner shell, finer sculpture, fewer whorls, and shallower suture, its habits, as well as the localities it frequents, are different. It is a shy and irritable little creature, im- patient of sunlight, and it seldom ventures forth except at “dusky eve,” or during dull weather after rain. 22H. PULCHEL LA MULLER. PEL WEEE Body rather short, very slightly granulated, milk-white, with a faint yellowish tint above, rather darker below ; Zeztacles ex- tremely transparent, pale yellowish-white ; ufper fazr thick, nearly cylindrical, bulbs nearly round, very thick, intensely black ; lower tentacles very short; foot faintly margined with white, strongly truncate in front, somewhat rounded behind ; /zmguad ribbon with 60 rows of 31 teeth = 1860. Shell depressed, slightly convex above and below, rather solid, * Beautiful. 142 HELICIDE. transparent, glossy, milk-white, with numerous fine, irregular, curved striz in the line of growth, which are stronger towards the umbilicus ; perzphery rounded, somewhat obtusely keeled in immature specimens ; epzdermis moderately thick ; whorls 32, rapidly increasing, body whorl larger than the rest of the shell ; spire very slightly produced; szture deepish ; mouth nearly circular ; outer lip exceedingly thick, greatly reflected, consider- ably inflected above and below, and in full grown specimens forming a complete peristome ; wmdzlzcus large and deep. Inhabits most parts of Great Britain, in damp places, among moss, at the roots of grass, and under stones, as well as in woods on fallen branches. This species is well named, for it is one of the most exquisitely beautiful of our land shells, especially when it assumes the form of the variety costata. Though timid, this little snail is hardy, it has been found at an elevation of upwards of two thousand feet above the sea-level. Bouchard-Chantereaux says that during the months of August and September it lays from twelve to twenty eggs of a globular form. Var. costata (H. costata, Miiller).—Shell not so glossy, with numerous transverse, curved, membranous ribs as well as inter- mediate striae. ; This variety is not uncommon; in this country I have not observed it in company with the typical form, but I found them living together under stones in damp places on the banks of the River Arques in Normandy. 22." Fis LAPICLDA,* UINNE. Paes Body somewhat lanceolate, yellowish-brown above with a pinkish tint in front, greyish beneath and on the tail, tubercles close-set, unequal in size and placed in lines; ¢ezZacles very long, * A stone-cutter. FELIX, 143 dark grey tinged with yellow, upper pair nearly united at their base, bulbs globular, short ; ower ¢entacles somewhat diverging ; foot slender and rounded in front, broader and keeled behind, margins whitish ; /ézgual ribbon with 150 rows of 81 teeth = 12,950: Shell compressed, somewhat solid, scarcely semitransparent (opaque when the animal is within), of a dullish aspect, greyish or yellowish horn-colour, with rufous-brown transverse markings, finely and closely shagreened, and indistinctly striate in the line of growth ; periphery strongly and acutely keeled ; efzdermis thickish ; whorls 5, sloping abruptly towards the periphery ; spire very slightly produced, apex obtuse, smooth, slightly glossy ; suture distinct but shallow; zouth nearly oval, oblique, angu- lated above and below, and indented at its juncture with the keel ; outer lip whitish, moderately thick, considerably reflected and forming with the zzser lip, which is of the same colour, a perfect peristome ; wabzlicus large and deep. Inhabits many places in England, especially in calcareous districts, on moist rocks and stone walls, as well as in woods and hedgerows. It does not appear to have been noticed in Ireland. In Scotland it has been found in some abundance on “a lichen-covered, dry, stone dyke near Hawick,’ by Mr. Grant Guthrie (‘Scottish Naturalist, vol. ii). It has recently been discovered in Breconshire by Mr. V. Trump, who has kindly sent me specimens; to him, therefore, the credit for having been the first to notice it in Wales, must be accorded. Although this species is of most frequent occurrence in calcareous districts, its range, in this country at least, is not altogether confined to them; it has been found near Worcester (Reece), and at Linton in North Devon (Captain Bruce Hutton), near to which place I have seen it in great abundance on a stone wall in a wood overhanging “the Lynn” ; the strata in these localities are not of a calcareous nature. 144 HELICIDE. This mollusc is hardy, but somewhat sluggish. Linné was under the impression that it has the power of boring into calcareous rocks, and consequently gave it the specific name of /agzcida (lapidary). He says of it, “ut larve lignum sic calcem rodens” (eating into chalk as caterpillars do into wood), and though the immortal Swedish naturalist was undoubtedly in error in this respect, the name J/apzcida is, after all, by no means inappropriate, as anyone who knows what a lapidary’s wheel is like will readily allow, the shell with its sharp keel bears a strong resemblance to it. Var. 1. albtva.—Shell white. Went Vale, Yorkshire (Hebden), Reigate (Saunders). Var. 2. minor.—Shell smaller and of a darker colour. 24,01, OBVOLUTA,* MULLER: PL. VE Body narrow, rather truncate in front, light reddish-brown above, pale greyish-brown below, very slightly transparent, tubercles oblong, placed in thick-set lines, brown finely powdered with white ; zeztacles very long, slender, but slightly thickened at the base, dusky-brown or reddish-brown, bulbs globular; upper tentacles near together at the base, closely granulated ; lower pair somewhat diverging ; foot with a narrow milk-white border, and ending in a slender and keeled tail; déxgual ribbon with 170 rows of 91 teeth = 15,470. Shell subdiscoidal, compressed, rather solid, nearly opaque, of a dull aspect, rufous-brown, with fine, close-set striz in the line of growth ; periphery rounded ; epidermis thick, covered with numerous strongish, rufous-brown hairs; whor/s 63, very eradually increasing ; sfzve depressed below the level of the body whorl, apex smooth, glossy ; sazture deepish ; mouth bluntly triangular in consequence of two protuberances, one of which is placed slightly above, and the other below the periphery ; outer lip pinkish-white, thick, considerably reflected ; zmzb¢licus large and deep. * Wrapped up. FELIX. 145 Inhabits woods, at the roots of trees and among moss, but it is rare in this country ; the only localities in which it has hitherto been noticed are Ditcham and Stoner Hill near Buriton in Hampshire, and Up Park, Sussex. Some naturalists have thought it pro- bable that this remarkable shell has been introduced into England from the Continent, where it is in many places abundant, but it has at least an equal claim with “7. cartusiana, and some other species, to be ranked among our British molluscs. It was first discovered in Ditcham Wood by Dr. Lindsay in 1831. It is tolerably active, but timid, and instantly re- treats within its shell when touched. Its slime is clear and copious, and its epiphragm very thick and of a white colour. 25. H. VILLO'SA,* DRAPARNAUD. In the ‘Annals and Magazine of Nat. Hist.’ for February, 1877, Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys writes as follows:— “Mrs. David Robertson, of Glasgow, found four living specimens of this land shell, in August, 1873, on the moors near Cardiff, Glamorganshire, while searching for Ostracoda in the ditches. It is an addition to our Mollusca. WH. villosa inhabits Germany, the east of France, and Switzerland, and it often occurs at con- siderable heights above the level of the sea.” It is possible that specimens of this foreign shell may again be found in this country ; our daily increasing inter- course with the Continent renders it probable that, before long, it will be no easy task to distinguish our = Elairy. 146 HELICIDE. indigenous Fauna and Flora with any degree of certainty from those which have been introduced. It is rumoured moreover that, of late, several foreign molluscs have been intentionally imported into this country. Whether this proceeding is desirable or not is questionable; but it is desirable that those who choose to indulge their fancy in this way, should give due notice to the world of their doings, in order that naturalists may not be misled. It would not be necessary to publish the precise position of the colony ; the name of the species and the district in which it had been placed would suffice. GENUS V—BULIMUS,* SCOPOLI. Body elongated, capable of ‘being entirely contained within the shell ; ¢ez¢tacles 4; foot somewhat long and narrow. Shell conical ; sfzve produced ; south oval; umdzlicus very small. The Aulimi are very closely allied to the Helices, and resemble them in most particulars ; their tenta- cles are, however, rather shorter and their dentition somewhat different, the rows of teeth on the lingual ribbon being slightly curved as they approach its margin. BDULIMUS ACU TUS. MULLER. Pr. VEL Body thickish, semitransparent, light yellowish-grey, slightly darker in front and beneath, tubercles thickly set and consider- ably flattened ; zez¢acles greyish, darker above, upper pair close together at their base, bulbs moderately globular, much swollen at the base ; lower ¢entacles short, diverging ; foot subtruncate * A very inappropriate name, said to be a corruption of Audix, an African word. t Pointed. BULIMUS. 147 in front, tuberculate, ending in a keeled and obtuse tail ; 2zgual ribbon with 100 rows of 37 teeth = 3700. Shell cylindrically conic, scarcely semitransparent, whitish or yellowish-white, with irregular transverse streaks of a pale brown colour, often with a dark brown band towards the base of the body whorl, which in some cases also encircles the upper volutions, closely but irregularly striate in the line of growth, and often wrinkled on the surface ; er¢phery rounded ; epidermis thinnish ; whorls 8-9, convex, gradually enlarging ; spzve taper- ing, apex obtuse ; swture deepish ; mouth forming three-fourths of an oval; outer dip rather thin, reflected over, and almost concealing the wmzbzlicus, which is narrow and not very deep. Inhabits downs and other places near the sea-coast, especially on sandy soil, in many parts of Great Britain and Ireland. No well authenticated inland locality has been given for it. The shell varies con- siderably in colour and markings. These snails are gregarious ; in some localities they occur in countless myriads, and like /. virgata, are supposed to “drop from the clouds.” Var. 1. d¢zona.—Shell smaller, with two dark bands on the body whorl. Iona (Lowe and Berkeley), Abergelly near Conway (Gibbs), Cork (Humphreys), Tenby, Portmarnock in Dublin Bay (J. G. J.), B.C. Var. 1. 2zflata.—Shell rather more ventricose, streaked with brown or marked with a single band; sfzve shorter ; whorls proportionally broader; occurs with the typical form, but merges insensibly into it through intermediate gradations, 4.C. 2, B. MONTA'NUS,* DRAPARNAUD. PLOVITE Body thickish, dark red or greyish-brown, tubercles flattish, rather wide apart, with minute black specks ; ¢eztacles conical, thickish, reddish-brown, diverging at their base, upper pair shagreened, bulbs nearly globular, thick ; Zower tentacles nearly * Inhabiting mountains. 148 AELICID ZA. smooth, of a darker colour and rather more diverging than the others ; foo¢f with a narrow, pale grey margin, truncate in front, terminating in a long and obtusely pointed tail. Shell conic-oblong, semitransparent, somewhat glossy, vary- ing from pale brownish horn-colour to brown of different depths of shade, with irregular striz in the line of growth, which are intersected by fine, close-set, wavy lines, causing the surface, when viewed through a lens, to appear shagreened ; perzphery rounded (keeled in immature specimens) ; efzdermzs thickish ; whorls 63-73, rather compressed, body whorl occupying some- what less than half the length of the shell; sfzre tapering, apex obtuse; suture rather shallow and oblique; south forming three-fourths of an oval, pinkish or brown inside ; outer lip whitish, rather thick, reflected, especially over the wmbzlicus, which is narrow, but moderately deep. Inhabits woods in some of the southern and western counties of England, on the trunks and among the fallen leaves of trees, especially those of the beech, but it is a very ‘local “species. It occuts witaedz, obvoluta in woods near Buriton in Hampshire, and has also been found near Godalming by Mr. H. W. Kidd, and near Henley-on-Thames by Mr. Rich. It is rather inactive and irritable, and secretes an abundance of watery slime. In spring this snail, like some of the Clausiliz and a few other members of the Helicide, ascends trees (especially the beech) to a considerable height; it should consequently be searched for in early spring before it has made its ascent, or in autumn when it descends to seek its winter quarters. 2.) B. OBSCU RUS, “SMO LERR iP ve Body thickish, oblong, pale brown or reddish above, darker underneath, tubercles small, rather wide apart ; ¢exfacles very slightly conical, brown, upper pair finely granulated, bulbs * Hidden. BULIMUS. 149 globular, tips dilated ; dower tentacles nearly smooth, with fine and indistinct black specks ; foot very slightly fringed, angulated in front, broader in the middle, and narrowing towards the tail, which is somewhat slender ; /izgual ribbon with 120 rows of 55 teeth = 6600. Shell shaped like that of the last species, but smaller and shorter in proportion, semitransparent, rather thin, glossy, varying in colour from pale to dark brown, with fine irregular strie, as well as with fainter intermediate ones, in the line of growth ; periphery rounded; whorls 63, convex ; spire tapering, apex obtuse ; swz¢ure moderately deep ; mouth forming three-fourths of an oval; outer lip white, not very thick, considerably re- flected ; wsb¢/icus narrow and not deep. Inhabits many parts of Great Britain, in woods, on the trunks of trees, in hedgerows among moss, as well as on rocks and among heaps of stones. The shell of this species bears a strong resemblance to that of 4. montanus, but besides being very much smaller, it differs from it in the following respects: the surface is more glossy, and (owing to the absence of spiral striz) not shagreened, the whorls are more convex and fewer in number, the suture is rather deeper, the inside of the mouth white, and the outer lip is not so thick. It frequents moist and shady spots, and is inactive and irritable. A curious provision has been devised by Nature for the protection of this harmless little creature. Its shell, especially when immature, is coated with mud, which causes the animal when reposing, as it often does upon the trunk of the beech or other trees, so closely to resemble a small knot or excrescence of the bark that it is almost secure from detection by its enemies. The coating of mud is made to adhere to 150 HELICIDZ. the shell by the slime of the animal, or perhaps by a viscous exudation from the epidermis. Sometimes the disguise, instead of being formed of mud, consists of minute lichens, the spores of which have fallen upon and taken root in the epidermis of the shell. This species owes its name odscurus (hidden) to these facts, but it is not the only mollusc for which this safeguard has been provided; the young of the last species, B. montanus, as well as those of Pupa secale, are often similarly encrusted with mud. Var. alba.—Shell white or colourless. Sevenoaks in Kent (Smith), Lulworth, Dorset (J. G. J.), near Bristol (Miss F. M. Hele), B.C. Near Croydon (R. R.). GENUS VI—PU'PA,* LAMARCK. Body capable of being contained within the shell; zes¢acles 4, short, lower pair shorter than the upper ones ; foo¢ narrow. Shell cylindrical ; whorls compact; sfzre more or less pro- duced ; south horseshoe-shaped or semi-oval, usually toothed, sometimes provided with spiral plaits or folds; wmbzlicus minute. These little snails are gregarious, and live among moss and dead leaves, as well as upon rocks, beneath the bark of trees, and under stones, both in low-lying and elevated situations. They are herbivorous, and some species are ovoviviparous. Pupa (from pupus) is a Latin word which signifies a child, and also a puppet or doll. It has been applied to these shells, as well as to the chrysalis of insects, because of their faficied resemblance to an infant in swaddling clothes. * A doll. PUPA. ISI A. Spire produced ; mouth horseshoe-shaped, with teeth and folds ; outer if somewhat thickened, and more or less reflected. I. PUPA SECATE* DRAPARNAUD. Prt Ex Body oblong, grey with a reddish or brownish tint above, slaty-grey beneath, tubercles small, irregular and slightly angular ; mantle covered with minute black specks ; tentacles short, thick, somewhat diverging, bulbs oblong; /vo¢ usually fringed, widening behind, but somewhat pointed at its ex- tremity ; /2zgual ribbon with 100 rows of 41 teeth = 4100. Shell conical, elongated, thickish, nearly opaque, rather glossy, light brown or brown, with numerous distinct oblique striz in the line of growth ; periphery rounded, but somewhat compressed ; efzdermis moderately thin ; whorls 8-9, gradually increasing ; sfzre produced, apex obtuse; suture deepish; mouth horseshoe-shaped, considerably contracted by the laminar folds, of which there are usually from eight to nine, two (or sometimes three) on the base of the penultimate whorl (the outer one is situated close to the upper margin of the outer lip, and its outer edge is frequently furnished with a small denticle), two on the pillar, and four on the inside of the outer lip which are produced to some distance within the interior of the aperture, and are distinctly visible on the outside, where they appear like white lines; outer lip thickened, slightly reflected ; wsdbzlicus minute, oblique. Inhabits many places in England, chiefly, though not exclusively, in limestone districts, on rocks, in old chalk-pits, and in woods at the roots of trees and under stones, but it is a local species. It does not appear to have been observed in Scotland, but it has been found in South Wales. The Rev. J. McMurtrie informs me that it occurs abundantly, of a large size * A grain of corn (rye 2). 152 HELICID. and often of a whitish colour, in Steep Holm Island in the Bristol Channel. The shells of this species, especially when imma- ture, are often covered with mud or lichens, as is the case with those of Aulimus obscurus. Var. 1. alva.—Shell white or colourless. Lulworth, Dorset- shire (J. G.J.), B.C Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire (Lister Peace); vec: Var. 2. Botleaustana.— It is distinguished from the type by its smaller size, the larger plication on penultimate whorl being always double, and by the presence of a prominent additional fold at the angle of the columella.” Found by Mr. W. Nelson at Dorridge near Knowle, Warwickshire (fide J. W. Taylor). —F.C., January, 1879. Var. 3. edentula. — “Shell smaller, thinner, smooth and glossy ; striation regular and fine on the upper whorls, gradually becoming fainter and more irregular on the lower ones ; aper- tural plications obsolete.” Found “in 1877 at the foot of the rocks near Ingleton, Yorkshire,” by Mr. J. W. Taylor.—7.C., January, 1879. | B. Spire short ; mouth horseshoe-shaped, with one or more teeth or folds; outer “ip considerably thick- ened, more or less reflected. Immature shells with transverse plates, and spirally twisted ridge- like folds. 2. B. RIN'GENS,* JEFFREYS. PL. TX. “Body yellowish-grey or slate colour, with several dark lines or streaks along the sides, leaving a clear space in the middle, underneath milk-white ; szan/?le thick, projecting a little beyond the mouth of the shell ; ¢ezfacles short, of a lighter shade than the upper part of the body, larger pair cylindrical and stumpy, rather close together, the bulbs scarcely distinguishable, lower * Grinning. PUPA, 153 pair more like tubercles ; foo¢ rounded in front and obtusely pointed behind.”—B.C., vol. i. p. 244. Shell subcylindrical, somewhat oval, rather solid, scarcely semitransparent, glossy, light brown or yellowish horn-colour, with slight but close-set transverse striz ; periphery rounded, but somewhat compressed; efzdermis thin; whorls 6-632, convex, body whorl occupying about one-third of the shell ; spire short and abrupt, apex obtuse; swture distinct, but shallow ; #zouwth horseshoe-shaped, but considerably angulated and contracted by the folds, of which there are usually two on the base of the penultimate whorl, the outer one large, spirally twisted, and extending far within the aperture; two on the pillar (the outer one much more prominent than the other), and a fold, as well as from one to three rather deeply seated denticles inside the outer lip; there is also a curved fold, which extends from the base of the lip to the inner fold on the pillar, forming with it a pointed arch ; outer lip pale reddish-brown, consider- ably thickened, somewhat reflected, inflected and rounded above so as to join the outer fold on the penultimate whorl ; wmdzlecus oblique, distinct, but narrow. Inhabits moist places among moss and decayed leaves, as well as at the roots of grass and under stones, in the north of England, the north and west of Scotland, in most parts of Ireland, and in Guernsey. This species was first discovered by Mr. Bean of Scarborough, and described in the ‘Linnean Trans- actions’ by Gwyn Jeffreys, who in his ‘British Conchology’ says: ‘“ This is a shy little creature, although tolerably active when inclined to make its appearance. It has a singular habit of withdrawing slowly one of its eyes, which rolls backwards like a little ball until it reaches the neck, while the tentacle which supports it remains extended to its full length. This I have observed being done when there was no 154 ET ELACT OZ. obstacle in the way. It also retracts occasionally, and apparently without any reason, one of its horns and not the other. It does not appear to be ovo- viviparous like the next species (P. wsmbzlicata).” In immature specimens the mouth has, in addition to the principal folds on the base of the penultimate whorl and pillar, transverse folds (similar to the plaits in Planorbis lineatus), which are placed at a short distance from one another, at a right angle to the position occupied by the folds on the outer lip of full-grown specimens, and are distinctly visible outside the shell. Var. pallida.—Shell of a lighter colour, sometimes whitish. 3.) P, UMBINICA TA)* (DRAPARNAUD, PEROT Body elongated, strongly truncate in front, greyish-brown above, of a lighter colour underneath, head and neck speckled with black ; mantle roundish, covered with minute black and white specks ; ¢estacles greyish-brown, finely spotted with black, upper pair rather thick, very close together at their base, bulbs large, lower pair very thick, widely diverging ; foot rather broad, rounded at both extremities. Shell subcylindrical, somewhat thin, glossy, semitransparent, brownish or yellowish horn-colour with faint, irregular, close-set, oblique striz in the line of growth; perzphery rounded, occa- sionally with an indistinct blunt keel ; epfzdermzs thin ; whorls 6-7, convex; sfzre short, apex obtuse; suture distinct, but rather shallow and oblique ; 7zouth horseshoe-shaped, with a short, slightly curved denticle on the base of the penultimate whorl close to the upper extremity of the outer lip, the pillar is also thickened by an oblique fold ; owzer /7H broad, considerably reflected and thickened, white, sometimes tinged with pink or reddish brown; zzzer lip thinly spread on the base of the penultimate whorl ; dz/icus small, oblique. * Having an umbilicus. PUPA. 155 Inhabits almost every part of the British Islands, in crevices of rocks and walls, beneath the bark of trees, and under stones and fallen leaves. This common species is ovoviviparous, but not prolific; the young, which do not exceed five in number, are excluded during the months of July and August, and often remain for a time attached to the shell of the parent. The shell of immature specimens is conical and bluntly keeled, and its mouth is furnished with a spiral lamina or plate on the base of the penultimate whorl and on the pillar, as well as with transverse folds: similat to those in P. rimgens; it has alsova rather deep umbilicus, and is consequently so unlike the adult shell that it has frequently been mistaken for a distinct species. Var. 1. edentula (toothless), denticle on the base of the penul- timate whorl wanting ; not uncommon. Var. 2. alba.—Shell white or colourless. Plymouth and Somersetshire (Norman), Grassmere, Church Stretton, Cardiff, and Tenby (J. G. J.), B.C. Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire (Lister Peace), F.C. C. Shell cylindrical; sfzre short; mouth semi-oval, with or without denticles ; outer lp with a strong external rib. 4. P. MARGINA’TA,* DRAPARNAUD. PL. IX. Body slender, slightly rounded in front, glossy, dark grey, tinged with brown above, paler and covered with minute black specks below, tubercles small but thick-set ; fem¢acles thick, nearly black, opaque, considerably rounded at the tips, upper pair * Margined. 156 HELICIDE. rather close together, lower pair somewhat diverging ; fvo¢ rather narrow in front, broader towards the tail, which is triangular. Shell nearly cylindrical, somewhat solid, scarcely Semitrans- parent, slightly glossy, light brown or yellowish horn-colour, with numerous fine, close-set, irregular striz in the line of growth ; periphery rounded ; epidermis thin; whorls 6-7, convex but slightly compressed; sfzve short, apex obtuse ; suture deepish ; mouth forming about two-thirds of a roundish oval, often pro- vided with a small denticle which is placed in or near the centre of the base of the penultimate whorl; ouzer 7p rather thin, slightly reflected, and furnished outside, at a short distance from the margin, with a strong white rib; zzzer lip very thinly spread on the base of the penultimate whorl ; wszdzlicus narrow. Inhabits many parts of Great Britain, in the crevices of rocks, under stones, and among moss and dead leaves. It occurs most abundantly near the sea- coast, in sandy pastures, at the roots of grass and other plants. Like the last species it is ovoviviparous ; it breeds during the months of July and August, and nae eggs are from three to seven in number. Var. 1. digranata (having two grazms or tubercles), Ross- massler.—Shell rather smaller and thicker, and having a tuber- cular tooth or denticle on the inside of the outer lip, in addition to that on the base of the penultimate whorl. Bath (Clark), Lulworth, Dorsetshire (J. G. J.), Oxfordshire (Whiteaves), Weston-super-Mare (Norman), 2.C. Lewes and Beachy Head (R. R,). Var. 2. albina, Menke.—Shell white. Somersetshire (Clark, Norman, and J. G. J.), Oxfordshire (Whiteaves), B.C. GENUS VII.—VERTI'GO,* MULLER. Body capable of being entirely contained within the shell ; tentacles 2, tips very slightly swollen. Shell ovate, or somewhat ne or spindle-shaped, ae * A turning round, VERTIGO. 157 glossy ; whorls compact, gradually increasing ; sfzre short, sometimes sinistral ; szouth usually provided with teeth, or folds, which are placed considerably within the aperture, and its outer lip is then contracted ; wszdbz/¢cus minute. These tiny snails resemble the Pwpe in many re- spects, but differ from them essentially in being desti- tute of the lower pair of tentacles, a fact which was first noticed by Miller, who consequently instituted the present genus. Some species are semi-aquatic. A. Shell oval or ovate; sfzre dextral ; mouth provided with teeth. I. VERTIGO ANTIVERTI'GO,* DRAPARNAUD. PL, IX. Body short, thick, greyish-black, faintly tinged with slate- colour, tubercles very minute, more or less black; ¢entacles black, rather near together at their base, bulbs oval, forming about a third of the tentacles; foot oblong, narrow, margins pale grey, with minute black specks ; so/e of a uniform slaty- grey. Shell ovate, thin, semitransparent, glossy, of a chestnut- brown colour, with exceedingly fine close-set strize in the line of growth, and very indistinctly striate spirally ; periphery rounded ; efzdermzs very thin; whorls 42, ventricose, abruptly increasing, body whorl occupying about half of the shell; spzre short, apex obtuse ; suture deep ; mouth approaching to semi- oval, but the centre of the outer edge is considerably contracted, causing the aperture to appear somewhat angular, usually pro- vided with the following teeth, which in colour resemble the rest of the shell, and are irregular in shape and size; two or three on the base of the penultimate whorl, two of them rather strong and pointing towards the outer edge ; the third or inner one, when present, much smaller, one or two on the pillar, and * Not reversed. 158 HELICIDE. three prominent curved ones on the inside of the outer lip ; there are sometimes one or two small intermediate tubercles ; the number of the teeth, however, is not constant ; outer lip flexuous, slightly reflected, strengthened outside at a short dis- tance from its margin by arib; zzzer lip spread on the base of the penultimate whorl, and in full-grown specimens con- tinuous ; wmzdzlzcus distinct, but narrow. Inhabits many parts of Great Britain, in marshy places under stones and timber, as well as at the roots of grass, moss, and other plants ; but its habitat does not seem to be restricted to such situations, for it has been found in East Lothian at a height of 1200 feet above the sea-level. This little mollusc is rather slow in its movements ; Moquin-Tandon says it carries its shell in a nearly upright position, swaying it from side to side when crawling. The shell is not furnished with its full complement of teeth until the animal is full grown; immature specimens have only one tooth on the base of the pen- ultimate whorl and another on the pillar. 2. Vio MOULINSIA NA* DUPUY, PLAX, “ Body smooth, shining ; colour above, dark grey, with darker streaks arranged lengthwise ; below of a much paler hue, and interspersed with numerous irregular microscopic black specks ; mantle thickish, greyish-white, protruded hke a short collar ; snout hood-shaped, closely wrinkled across, in front gently rounded, or very slightly indented on each side, so as to make that part trilobular ; mouth small, triangular, placed under- neath the snout in the middle; ¢ez¢acles club-shaped, folding inwards, diverging at a right angle, having a faint tint of * Named after M. des Moulins, a French conchologist. VERTIGO. 159 purple ; there is not the least trace of a lower pair of tentacles ; eyes roundish oval, seated on the bulbs or points of the ten- tacles, towards the front ; foot thick, greyish-white, three or four times as long as broad, squarish or nearly truncated in front, and gradually narrowing behind to a blunt point ; it is nearly the length of the shell; soe very flexible, especially at the edges; pulmonary orifice small.”—Jeffreys, ‘ Annals and Magazine of Nat. Hist.’ for November, 1878. Shell tumidly oval, thin, glossy, almost transparent, pale yellowish or brownish horn-colour, indistinctly striate in the line of growth; jerzphery rounded; epzdermzs very thin ; whorls 4%, exceedingly ventricose, abruptly increasing, body whorl exceeding in size the rest of the shell; sfzve short, apex very obtuse; suture very deep; mouth forming about two- thirds of an oval, with a slight sinuosity towards the centre of the outer edge, with four or five teeth, one on the centre of the base of the penultimate whorl, one on the pillar, and two (the lower one of which is slightly the most prominent) on the inside of the outer lip; the fifth tooth, when present, is placed a little below the one on the pillar; owter ¢ip whitish, somewhat thin, reflected, and strengthened by a moderately broad rib, which is placed at a short distance from the aper- ture ; zzner lif very indistinctly spread on the base of the penultimate whorl; wszd¢licus rather more distinct than in V. antivertigo. Inhabits marshes, on reeds, &c. This interesting species was recently discovered for the first time in England by Mr. Groves in two localities, one in Hamp- shire and the other in the neighbourhood of Hitchin ; and a short time since, when on an excursion in company with Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys and myself, he was again fortunate in first finding it in another locality in Hertfordshire. Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys is now of opinion that the species which he discovered some years ago in Ireland, and described in ‘British Conchology’ as V. Moulinsiana 160 HELICIDZE. is V. (pupa) Litlljeborgi of Westerlund, and he pro- poses to add it to the British list under that name. In the‘ Annals and Magazine of Nat. Hist.’ for Nov. 1878, he says, “ The shell of V. Moulinsiana is rather more swollen or barrel-shaped than that of V. Liltjeborgi, and the labial rib is much stouter.” A short time ago I paid a visit to Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys at Ware Priory, when he kindly showed me specimens of the two shells, which certainly differ from each other in the manner described; but unless Dr. Westerlund noticed in these forms other and stronger distinguish- ing features, I think he is scarcely justified in regard- ing them as distinct species. The above description of the shell of V. Moulin- siana is from Hampshire specimens kindly given to me by Mr. Groves, who informs me that the number of teeth in shells from that locality is usually five, although there are sometimes one or two additional denticles. Var. didentata.—“ Labial or palatal teeth wanting.” This is recorded in ‘British Conchology’ as a variety of the shells found in Ireland by the author of that work ; it must therefore be referred to V. Lilhe- borgi, if Dr. Westerlund is correct in regarding that form as specifically distinct from V. Moulinsiana. 3. V. PYGMA’A,* DRAPARNAUD. PL. IX. Body of a dark slaty-grey colour, with minute, round, close-set tubercles ; ¢ezfacles very slender, almost touching each other at the base, but widely diverging above, bulbs oblong, greyish at * Dwarf. VERTIGO. 161 the tips; by the aid of a lens, two minute black specks are discernible where the lower pair of tentacles would have been placed had they existed ; fvof truncate in front, ending in a narrow tail. Shell oval, semitransparent, glossy, of a reddish-brown colour, with faint striz in the line of growth, and a few still more indistinct spiral lines; Perzphery rounded; epidermis very thin ; whorls 43-5, convex, not much swollen, body whorl occupying about half of the shell; sfzre short, apex obtuse ; suture well defined; south obliquely semi-oval, with a sharp tooth in the centre of the base of the penultimate whorl, one on the pillar and two or three on the inside of the outer lip; outer lip rather thin, slightly reflected, thickened by a broadish external rib ; zzner lif somewhat thick ; wmbzlicus moderately deep, but narrow. Inhabits most parts of Great Britain, in dry and elevated situations, at the roots of grass and under stones and timber; it also occurs in marshy places. It is lively and irritable, and crawls along rather rapidly in a jerking manner, carrying its shell in a nearly upright position. The much smaller size and narrower shape of the shell of this species will serve to distinguish it from V. Moulinsiana and V. antivertigo; it differs also from the latter in having only a single tooth on the base of the penultimate whorl. Var. pallizda.—Shell lighter in colour and thinner. Inhabits marshy places. Wool, Dorsetshire (Daniel), North Devon and Connemara (J