214 Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 



ViTRizoNiTES (W. G. Binney, 1879). 



18. V. latissitnus, Lewis. This fine mollusk, one of the 

 most interesting yet found in North America, is of general 

 distribution throughout this region, occurring at all heights, 

 and in all kinds of stations. In dry weather it rests on the 

 ground, under leaves, with the foot expanded. It is an active 

 species, moving even during sunny days in midwinter. The 

 shell is corneous, flexible, tough, not easily broken, but easih- 

 indented when fresh. During the procreative period the 

 anterior portion of the body becomes very much swollen, as 

 do all the organs of the genitalia. Though I have closely 

 observed this singular animal for several years, I have never 

 detected it feeding, nor have I been able to get any clue to 

 the character of its food. So far as I know no species of 



Vitrhia proper has been found here, though my friend, Mr. 

 W. G. Binney, has repeatedly urged that search be made for 

 them. The species under consideration is easily reared in 

 " snaileries " or Wardian cases, and is a beautiful and graceful 

 addition to their families. 



ZoNiTES (Montfort, 1810). 



This group, with its divisions Mesompliix (Raf, 1819), 

 Hyalina (Ferussac, 1819), Coyiulus (Fitzinger, 1833), and Gas- 

 trodonta (Albers, 1850), is represented by some of the most 

 interesting and beautiful shells that we have here. 



Very much attention has been given the species of Zonitcs, 

 both in this country and elsewhere, and much time and labor, 

 and much study, and many published results ; yet this sec- 

 tion of North American snails is to-day in a far from satis- 

 factory condition of classification. It is not our purpose to 

 add to this literature. That is for those whose mission, it 

 seems, is rather to endeavor to improve nature than to inter- 

 pret her. 



19. Z. capnodes, W. G. Biun. Shells taken here by us, 

 and also in Union County, Tennessee, were referred by Mr. 

 Bland to this species. A careful dissection of the animals, 

 and the closest study that we have been able to give them, 

 show none of the differences pointed out by Mr. Binney. 

 We therefore believe that all the shells so referred belong to 



