70 land and fresh- water shells of n. a. [part ii. 



Spurious Species of Limn^a. 



Limnsa decisa, Say, Nich. Ency. ed. 1 and 2, pi. ii, f. 6 = MeJantho decisa. 

 Limnsea heterostropha, Say, Nich. Ency. pi. i, f. 6 = Physa hettrostropha. 

 Limnsea subcarinata, Say, Nich. Ency. pi. i, f. 7 = Lioplax subcarinata. 

 Limnxa virginica. Say, Nich. Ency. pi. ii, f. A = Melania virginica. 

 Limnsea vivipara, Say, Nich. Ency. pi. i, f. 5 = Vivipara contectqides. 



I find Limnsp.a nigrescens, gracilis, and reticulata mentioned as new species 

 by DeKay in N. Y. Zoological Report of Dec. 20, 1S39, p. 32. I know of no 

 other mention or any description of the species. 



Limnsea heteroxtropha is mentioned by name only in Adams' List of Fresh 

 Pond Shells. Phgsa heterostropha being also mentioned, I do not know to 

 what species he may refer. (Silliman's Journ. [i], XXXVI, 392.) 



Limnsea ovaia, Lam. is mentioned in the Catalogue of Shells of Massa- 

 chusetts, 1838, p. 37. I do not know what species is referred to under this 

 name. 



Woodward (Man. 399) quotes Limnsea truncatula from the Canadian 

 region, referring it doubtfully to L. decoUata. (See remarks under L. 

 desidiosa.) 



Among the writings of C. S. Rafinesque occur some descriptions of 

 Limnseidse which I repeat here. I translate them from the Podrome de 

 70 uouveaux genres d'animaux, &c., in the Journal de Physique, de Chemie, 

 et d'Histoire Naturelle, LXXXVIII, June, 1819. However little claim to 

 accuracy the writings on American conchology of this author may possess, 

 it seems to me we are bound to acknowledge and examine carefully all 

 his published descriptions, rather than entirely ignore their existence, as 

 some would do. 



€>mphiscola,\. c. p. 423. — Differs from Lymnula {Lymnea, Auct.) 

 by its inferior lip being detached from the columella and 

 divided from it by a long umbilicus. Family of Limnidas. 

 Many lacustrine and fluviatile species. 



Espiphylla, 1. c. — Differing from Lymnula (Lymnea, Auct.) by its 

 rounded aperture and its claviform tentacles carrying the 

 eyes at their end. Family Lymnidce. Only one lacustrine 

 species, E. nympheola. 



Cyclemis, 1. c. p. 424. — Differs from T^ymntda by its rounded shell 

 of two or three slightly oblique whirls. Aperture large, 

 almost round. Animal like that of Espiphylla ? Two lacus- 

 trine species, C. minutissima and C. olivacea. 



Lomastoma, 1. c. — Shell acute, pyramidal. Aperture oblong, base 

 obtuse, summit sharp, entirely surrounded by a detached, 

 marginal, acute lip, which is decurrent and inflected at the 

 junction of the snmmit ; no operculum or umbilicus. Ani- 

 mal unknown. Singular genus of the family Lymnidx ? One 

 only known species, L. terebrina. Shell subulate, smooth, 



