486 Descriptions and Notices of 



Helix auricoma, Fer., Hist, dcs Moll., plate 4.6, fig. 7 

 to 9. Prodr. No. 80. 



There is mucli variation in the color of the animal. In 

 some it is reddish brown, in others slate-color. Of two 

 specimens found in contact, one was light reddish brown on 

 the sides, and dark brown on the back and tentacles. The 

 other was slate-colored, dark on back and tentacles, and 

 lighter at sides. It was never seen upon trees, nor upon a 

 log, not even in the wet season ; but a specimen left at lib- 

 erty crawled to the top of the room in the night, and remain- 

 ed fixed there until dislodged. 



It is found on the coffee plantations under plantain leaves ; 

 in the woods on the limestone knobs, among stones and 

 under leaves, close upon the ground. In the dry months 

 it forms a calcareous epiphragm over the aperture, and this 

 is the only species which was observed to form a covering of 

 similar material. 



Found in plenty on the La Carolina and Retiro estates, 

 and in the immediate vicinity of Matanzas. In the latter 

 locality many dead ones were found in wild shrubbery, 

 among rocks, near salt water, occupied by hermit crabs. 

 They were smaller than those found in the interior. The 

 variety brought from the region of St. Jago de Cuba is also 

 small, solid, coarsely wrinkled, and somewhat distorted by the 

 pursing in of the aperture. It is probably this variety to 

 which Lamarck applied the term H. microstoma. 



Heltx Bonplandti, Lam. ; Feruss., Hist, des Moll., plate 

 46 A. fig. 2. 



Animal, dark slate-color, long, and finely granulated^; lives 

 upon trees, and is rather rare and difficult to be obtained. 

 Found at La Carolina, St. Cecilia, Retiro, and near Matanzas 

 in September and March. Fine, fresh speciniens are dark 

 brown, and individuals vary much in the elevation of the 

 spire. 



