HELIX. 



429 



Fig. 637. 



Rather common in tlic vicinity of Boston, under stones in rich 

 soil, and about decaying stumps. It is probably abun- 

 dant in all parts of this State, and has been noticed 

 from Canada East to Nebraska and Florida. Also 

 throughout Europe, Siberia, Thibet, Madeira, Azores, 

 &c. 



This very minute snail is a very beautiful shell 

 when examined by a magnifier. It has rather the 

 external characters of Cydostoma than of Helix. It 

 agrees with the H. pulchella of Miiller in all respects, 

 except that it is never supplied with the sharp, paral- 

 lel ribs which are frequently found on the foreign specimens, though 

 by no means constantly. It is thought by some to have been intro- 

 duced from Europe. But, as Dr. Binney remarks, " it does not 

 seem possible that so small an animal, if naturalized since the ar- 

 rival of Europeans, could have been able to penetrate to the remote 

 points in the interior of the continent where it is now found." 



H. pulchella. 

 Enlarged. 



Helix hortensis. 



Shell sub-g-lobose, thin, smooth, greenish-yellow, or variously banded with 

 brown; lip reflexed, white, thickened within; umbilicus closed. 



Helix hor/ensix, MiJLLER, &c. — Pfktffer, Mon. Hel. Viv. iii. 195. — Mrs. Sheppard, 



Tr. Lit. Hist. Soc. Quebec, i. 193 (18»J). — Gould, Inv. 172. — Bixxey, Terr. 



Moll. ii. Ill, pi. 8. — W. G. Binney, Terr. Moll. iv. 51. — Morse, Am. Nat. i. 186, 



fill. 16 (1867). 

 Helix sub-fjhbnsa, Binney (formerly), Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. i. 485, pi. 16 (1837). -De 



K.\Y, N. Y. Moll 33, pi. 2, fig. 14 ; pi 3, fig. 39. 

 Tachea hortensis, Tkyon, Am. Journ. Conch, ii. 321, pi. 6, figs. 14, 15 (1866). 



Shell sub-glolnilar, thin, smooth, and shining ; whorls four or 

 five, convex, with apparent lines of growth ; suture ^.^^ ggg 



distinct ; termination of the outer whorl declining ; 

 aperture rounded, slightly contracted at the base by 

 the thickening and inflection of the lip ; lip slightly 

 reflected, white, thickened within ; base somewhat 

 convex, umbilicus covered ; general color greenish- 

 yellow, more or less dark ; sometimes plain, but gen- 

 erally variously banded with dark reddish-brown. 

 Diameter about three fourths of an inch. 



The animal has the head and neck blackish, with 

 a slight tinge of brown ; tentacula smoky ; eyes ^' ^'"■''"^'^• 

 black ; base of foot inky, tip dirty flesh-color ; respiratory orifice 



