CONOVULID^E. 



This small family, made up of the genera Conovulus, Pedipes, 

 and Carychium, constitutes the Auriculidte of authors. I prefer 

 the former appellation, as some of the species of the latter have 

 not the eyes at the central or inner bases of the teiitacula, 

 but are more closely allied to the typical Helices ; whereas the 

 true Conovulidfe are of the Linmeadan branch of the Pulmoni- 

 fera, having the eyes always at the base of the tentacula. 

 This family is undoubtedly closely allied to the Helicidce, and 

 its animals, until lately, have been considered marine Pectini- 

 branchiata ; but the Rev. M. G. Berkeley, in the Zoological 

 Journal, vol. v. p. 428, pi. 19. f. 3, has shown that the animals 

 are Pulmonifera, and our descriptions fully support that deter- 

 mination. 



This family, and its allies the Helicida, are so entirely 

 incongruous with those which precede and follow r their pre- 

 sent position in the main line, that it has been judged expe- 

 dient to let them stand, but to consider them as an aberrant 

 group. As it is not our intention to do more than allude to 

 the land and freshwater mollusca, I shall confine myself to 

 an account of the only species of Conovulus, and that of 

 Pedipes, to satisfy malacologists on the respiratory structure, 

 and to remove any doubts that may still remain in respect 

 thereof, as well as on account of their being, perhaps not very 

 inappropriately, regarded as marine amphibious Pulmonifera, 

 that inhabit the sea-walls, oozes, and sedges of the estuaries, 

 where they are often immersed in the flats and pools, from 

 which, like the Limneadee, they come to the surface to breathe 

 free air. These animals, from the position of the eyes and 

 shape of the tentacula, have certainly considerable relations 

 with the Pyramidellidan Chemnitzidce. 



I observe, for the consideration of the younger naturalist, 

 that it matters not if one animal is terrestrial and pulmoni- 

 ferous, and another of marine or freshwater habitat and pec- 

 tinibranchous they will take their natural position with 



