LIGUUS. 405 



diffused over the whole surface ; more rarely the shell is entirely white. The 

 columella is only slightly folded, and the lip is not crenate. The shell is some- 

 what thick. The variety is constant; and Mr. Say, supposing it to be a dis- 

 tinct species, called it Achatina solida, from the last-named character. (PI. LV.) 



There are two other varieties, existing also in Cuban specimens, which are 

 well marked. The first (PI. LVII.) is distinguished hy grass-green lines, more 

 or less numerous, and of greater or less diameter, and by narrow bands of the 

 same color, revolving upon a white ground. They are more numerous and 

 more distinct upon the body-whorl, and become almost obliterated on the pos- 

 terior whorls ; they are often undulating, and differ in the intensity of the color. 

 The peristome, at the points where the lines terminate, is crenate or notched, 

 which peculiarity has suggested one of the synonymes of the species. The 

 axis is usually shorter than in the preceding variety, and, consequently, the 

 body-whorl and aperture are larger in proportion to the whole magnitude of 

 the shell ; the columella is also more folded and thickened. The aperture is 

 white. The other variety is marked by broad, entire or interrupted bands or 

 blotches of deep brown. (PI. LVI.) These sometimes cover nearly the whole 

 surface; at other times they are broken into irregular spots, which are arranged 

 above and below the sutures. The apex and the columellar margin are rosy ; 

 and so closely connected are these two characters with the presence of the 

 brown color on the surface, that if a single spot or line of it is seen externally, 

 the columellar margin will be pretty certainly found to be rosy. The colu- 

 mella is more prominently folded and thickened than in either of the other 

 varieties. 



Well-characterized specimens of these three varieties differ so much from 

 each other that they might well be considered to be specifically distinct; but 

 the passage from one to the other may be readily detected in some specimens. 

 We see some retaining the wide yellow bands, amidst which are numerous, 

 fine, green lines; this shows the connection of the two first-named varieties, 

 but such specimens are comparatively rare. On the other hand, specimens 

 are much more common exhibiting the broad brown bands or blotches upon 

 the superior part of the spire, while the last, and perhaps the penultimate, 

 whorls are marked with green lines alone. 



The columella is sometimes prominently plaited and thickened ; and the 

 peristome joins it at an obtuse angle, but it is never truly truncated. In young 

 shells there is a more near approach to a truncation ; and a distinct angle or 

 carina may be noticed on the body-whorl. 



Jaw and lingual dentition (see p. 401, 402). 



The genitalia are figured by Leidy (1. c.). The penis sac is long, cylindri- 

 cal, and strongly muscular ; the vas deferens joins it near the summit, and the 

 retractor muscle, which is very long, is inserted into the latter ; the oviduct is 

 long, and its central part presents the peculiarity of being colored brown ; the 

 genital bladder is ovate, situated near the ovary, and its duct is narrow, 



