CARYCHITJM. 301 



manner as to give the surface an appearance similar to that 

 which is observable on the shells of several species of Limncea 

 (showing the conchological relation between that and the 

 present genus) : periphery rounded : epidermis not very thin : 

 whorls 5-^, convex ; the last occupying nearly one-half of the 

 shell, and the penultimate whorl fully equalling (if not ex- 

 ceeding) it in breadth : spire moderately pointed : suture deep : 

 mouth obliquely oval, contracted below into a narrow channel, 

 furnished with a strong spiral fold or plait on the middle of 

 the pillar, and with another on the pillar lip : outer lip ex- 

 ceedingly thick and reflected, having on the middle of its 

 inside edge a strong tooth or tubercle which projects into the 

 mouth ; upper edge considerably inflected : inner lip thickened 

 in adult specimens and forming with the outer lip a complete 

 peristome : umbilicus consisting of an oblique slit. L. 0-07. 

 B. 0-035. 



Habitat : Under stones and logs of wood, at the roots 

 of grass, and among moss and dead leaves, in woods 

 and damp places, everywhere from the Moray Firth 

 district to the Channel Isles, as well as throughout 

 Wales and Ireland. It is a member of our upper ter- 

 tiaries. Gerstfeldt has recorded it as a Siberian species, 

 Philippi as Sicilian, Morelet as inhabiting Algeria j and 

 it seems to be universally distributed over every part of 

 the Continent. 



This is an exquisitely beautiful creature, both alive 

 and dead; and Miiller did scant justice to it in calling 

 it a " bestiola/' when he was apparently provoked by its 

 shyness. Its eyes are so exceedingly black and piercing 

 that they are visible through the shell, when the animal 

 is not disposed to venture out of doors. It inhabits 

 mountainous tracts as well as plains, but seems to prefer 

 the vicinity of water. Dr. Lukis informs me that it 

 makes its winter domicile in the hollow stems of the 

 larger marsh umbelliferous plants. The plaits or folds 

 are in course of formation at a very early period of 

 growth; and young shells have the columella notched 



