22 PHYSA. 



appear to suffer from a high temperature, as 

 we find from the remarks of Mr. Lea.* When 

 disturbed by each other, or by extraneous 

 bodies, they whirl the shell about in such a 

 manner as to convince the observer that it is 

 a peculiar mode of defence. 



This genus was first called Bulinus by Adanson, whose 

 name has been retained under the form JBulimus, by 

 Bruguiere, and a few others; but Draparnaud's name pre- 

 vails so universally at the present day, that nothing but 

 confusion would result from a return to the first. Besides, 

 the rule of priority, which must be so rigidly enforced 

 with specific names, is adopted with greater latitude, when 

 genera or families are concerned; because naturalists can- 

 not allow the science to be tramelled here, by bad, inap- 

 propriate, or barbarous names; although it is proper, as far 

 as practicable, to adopt those which were first proposed. 

 A bad specific term affects but one species, whilst an im- 

 proper generic or family name, may affect hundreds. 



Adanson will have ample justice, if he be cited for Plan- 

 orbis coretus, and Physa bulinus, simply because he re- 

 jected the Linnean nomenclature; preferring one which he 

 constructed with the assistance of the niggers of Senegal. 

 An author who is not struck with the absurdity of call- 

 ing a genus of shells apple snail, objects to such names 

 as bobo, used by Adanson; names, however, which are not 

 worse than physe des mousses! or horny coil shell! 



* Tr. Am. Phil. Soc, vol. vi. p. 18. 



