ALEXIA. 5 



Auricula dtnticulata, DeKay, N. Y. Moll, 58, pi. v, f. 91, 93 (excl. Valuta 



denticulata, Mont, et syn.), iiec Moxtfort. 

 Melampus borealis, Conrad, Am. Journ. Sc. [2], XXIII, 345 (1833). 

 Alexia myosotis, Pfeiffer, Mon. Auric. Viv. 148 ; Brit. Mus. Auric. 114. 



— W. G. BiNNEv, T. M. IV, 172, pi. Ixxv, f. 33 ; pi. Ixxix, f. 16. 

 Carychium {Phytia) myosotis, Moquin-Tandon, Moll. Fr. II, 417, pi. xxix, 



f. 33-39 ; pi. XXX, f. 1-4. 

 Conovulus myosotis, Reeve, Br. L. & Fr. W. Sh. 130 (1864). 



Animal short, about one-half the length of the shell, dirty 

 white, darker on the head and tentacles ; eyes black, placed at 

 the inner base of the feelers ; feelers quite short, wrinkled, bul- 

 bous at tip, sufficiently dark to be visible through the thin shell 

 when the animal withdraws itself; head continued beyond the 

 tentaculae into an obtuse, short, bilobed snout ; the shell is carried 

 horizontally on the animal's back ; the obtusely pointed posterior 

 termination of the foot is just visible beyond the shell ; the animal 

 is sluggish in its movements. (See p. 4, Fig. 2.) 



Jaw. (See p. 4, Fig. 2.) 



Lingual dentition. (See p. 1, Fig. 1.) 



I have received specimens of tliis species from Nova Scotia to 

 Rhode Island. It is also a well-known inhabitant of parts of the 

 coasts of England, France, Spain, &c. 



I have placed this shell in this genus on the authority of Pfeiffer 

 and of Adams' genera. It has been placed in many different 

 genera by European authors. In America it has been considered 

 an Auricula by Gould and others, until Stimpson classed it 

 among the Melampi. From the exterior of the animal there 

 appears no difference between it and Melampus hidentatus. It 

 does not even agree with the animal of Alexia, given by Adams 

 in the Genera of Recent Mollusca, which I have copied on pi. 

 75, fig. 22, of The Terrestrial Mollusks. This figure represents 

 the true Alexia denticulata, Montfort, with which Gould con- 

 founds this species. The shell is also quite distinct. It is, how- 

 ever, united to Alexia myosotis, by Forbes and Hanley, in their 

 work on British Mollusca, and by Moquin-Tandon. Pfeiffer con- 

 siders them distinct, as does also Reeve. 



It is probably an imported species, as Stimpson remarks (Sh. 

 of. New Eng.), being found only in the Atlantic seaports. At 

 Boston it is common on old wooden wharves in the harbor. 

 It is also found on isolated stones which are immersed by the 

 rising tide at least four hours out of the twelve. When placed in 



