ALEXIA. 463 



far from any water in a garden in the District of Coluniljia, whither 

 it was introduced on phmts from Cliarleston, S, 0. With the ex- 

 ception of tlie two last mentioned, the American species are found 

 on salt marshes and in brackish water near the sea. 



Of the o-cographical distribution of our species but little is yet 

 known. Melampus bidentatus is found from Maine to Texas. 



Genus ALEXIA, (Leach,) Gray. 1847. 



Foot simple beneath, without a transverse groove. ^'° ™- 



Jaw narrow, slightly arcuate, extremities but little at- 

 tenuated, strii^ obsolete, scarcely any median projection. 

 Shell oblong-ovate, thin, spire pointed ; last whorl large, 

 rounded at base ; aperture rather broad, oval, acuminating ; 

 parietal wall furnished with from one to five tuberculous 

 lamina) ; columellar fold oblique ; peristome expanded, /";";,"^„°^,. 

 armed with teeth, or thickened within. ^"'"'S'"^- 



But one species is known to inhabit North America. Most of the 

 few foreign species inhabit the coasts of the Mediterranean, though 

 the genus is represented in South America and the West Indies. 



Alexia myosotis. 



Fig. 129. 



Shell ovate-conical, smooth, reddish horn-color; spire elevated and pointed; 

 inner lip with three teeth; lip reflexed. 



Anricula mijosofis, Draparxaud, &c. 



Auricula detiticidata, Gould, Inv. of Mass. 199, fig. 129 (excl. Volutn denfirulata, MoxT. et 



syn. suis.) (1841), not of Mostfort. -De Kay, N. Y. Moll. .58, pi. 5, figs. 91, 93 



(excl. Voliita deiiticniata, Mo\T. ct syn.), ncc Montfort. 

 Mehimpns borealis, CoNRAD, Am. Journ. Sc. [1], xxiii. .34.5 (18.33). 

 Alexia mi/osntis, I'fkiffer, Men. Auric. Viv. 148 ; Brit. Miis. Auric 114. — W. G. Bin- 



NEY, Terr. Moll. iv. 172, pi. 7.5, fig. .33; pi. 79, fig. 16; L. and Fr. W. Shells, iii. 



4, fig. 4 (1865). 

 Cari/chvtm (Phi/tia) myosolis, Moquin-Tandon, Moll. Fr. ii. 417, pi. 29, figs. 33-39; pi. 



30, figs. 1 -4. 

 C'onovulas mpsotis, Reeve, Br. L. and Fr. W. Shells, 130 (1864). 



Shell of an elongated oval form, slightly opaque, shining, horn 

 color, often tinted with reddish or violet ; lines of growth very faint ; 

 spire elevated and painted, composed of seven or eight slightly con- 

 vex whorls, separated by a well-defined suture, which often has a 



