230 The Irish Naturalist August, 



a small, slender neck placed high on the free oviduct, while in 

 pellucida this organ is round with a very bulbous base, and is 

 quite vestibular in position The great difference, however, 

 lies in the possession by elongata of a well-developed dart sac 

 and gland, which are quite the most conspicuous organs, and 

 of which V. pellucida does not show a trace. The dart sac 

 contains a hooked, chitinous and permanent dart, which is not 

 dehiscent as in Helix, though considered \)y Simroth to be its 

 homologue ; this dart is hollow with a jagged funnel-shaped 

 termination, and is the outlet for the secretions of the gland 

 cells above. Though termed a love-dart it is not by any means 

 certain that it functions in that way. (Plate 26, figs. 4-5.) 



The maxilla, or jaw, has not been observed, but there are 

 about ninety rows of teeth on the radula, which differ from 

 those of pellucida in the marginals being really unicuspid, 

 though showing indications of the bifurcation which is so 

 distinctly evident in pellucida. 



In habit, elongata is described as being very lively, agile and 

 more hardy than pellucida. When the animal is strongly 

 contracted, the head is withdrawn beneath the shield, which 

 extends about tw r o or three mill, beyond the shell-margin. 

 Its favourite resort is said to be the margins of streams, or in 

 woods under dead leaves and moss at the base of trees. The 

 food is probably similar to that of other species, but post 

 mortem examination of stomach contents disclosed that both 

 fresh and mouldy leaves of phanerogamic plants and mosses 

 are eaten, as well as small insects and the mycelia of fungi. 



The time of appearance is another feature distinguishing 

 elongata from pellucida, for while the latter can only be 

 obtained in perfection during the winter months, elongata has 

 been taken by Mr. Grierson quite adult in September. Dr. 

 Simroth tells me that in Saxony it is found only in the spring- 

 time or in the autumn months. 



Only one variety has been noted, which has been named 

 lusatica hy Jordan. It is found in Silesia, and is of a greener 

 tint and larger size than ordinary, with a more pronounced 

 membranous basal margin. It has also been named var. 

 major by Clessin, 



Geologically, or rather palaeontologically, attention is 

 necessarily restricted to the shell, and Sandberger has recorded 



