A C H A T I N A . 



Genus Achatina, Lamarck. 

 Testa ovata velfmiformi-oblotiya, anfmctibus plerumque stri- 

 atis vel gratiatis, colmneUd invohdd, had pecidiariter 

 trtmcatd, apei-turcE lahro sinipUci, nunquam iucrassalo 

 aui rejleto. Opermlwm nullum. 

 Shell ovate or fusiformly oblong, whorls mostly striated or 

 grained, columella rolled inwards, peculiarly trun- 

 cated at the base, lip of the aperture simple, never 

 thickened or reflected. No operculum. 

 The general aspect of the Achatiiue is very similar to 

 that of Bulhims, but the particidars of the shell in detail 

 present a sufficient typical difference throughout. The 

 chief peculiarity of structure which characterises this genus 

 resides in the columella, it being always involuted towai'ds 

 the aperture, and more or less abruptly tninoated at the 

 base. A negative character is also afforded in the outer 

 lip being never thickened or reflected. The Achatina are 

 not of the same arboreal habits as the BuUtni, but dwell in 

 places where there is more moistm-e, in swamps or in the 

 vicinity of lakes and rivers ; and are more confined to 

 particular localities. They comprehend thi'ee very distinct 

 gi'oups, one consisting of large, richly coloured, ventricose 

 species, chiefly inhabiting West Africa, where they may be 

 said to take the place of the BuUmi, another comprising 

 numerous delicate species, some of a semi-transparent, 

 glassy polish, others finely sculptured with gi-anulated or 

 raised striaj, inhabiting Central America, the West Indies, 

 and Southern Europe, and constituting the genus Glandina 

 of authors. The prettily painted and porcelain-like species 

 A. virginea and venllum, are also representatives of another 

 type, the genus Lignu-i of De Montford. 



Species 1. (Mus. Cuming.) 



.•VcHATlNA Pfeifferi. Ackat. testa oblongo-twritd, au- 

 fractibus oeto, convexis, longitndinaliter obscure plkato- 

 striatis, apicem versus subtiUter decussatd, ad suturas 

 indistincte crenulatis, colmneUd valde arctiatd et con- 

 tortd, abrupte truncatd; fulKeseente-albd, rufo-fasco, 

 pracipue basin versus, flanunatd. 



Pfeiffer's Achatina. Shell oblong-tmTeted, whorls 

 eight in number, convex, longitudinally obscurely 

 plicately striated, finely decussated towards the apex, 

 mdistinctly crenulated at the sutures, columella much 

 arched and twisted, abruptly truncated ; pale fulvous 



u liite, flamed especially towards the base with reddish 

 Ijrown. 

 DuxKER, Zeitschi-. fur Malac. 1845. p. 1G.3. 

 Ilnb. Near Loanda, West Africa (on sandy momitaius) 



As in most species of the genus the colouring is daikc 

 and more thickly displayed towards the base. 



Species 2. (Mus. Cuming.) 

 Achatina ^aUATORiA. Achat, testa acuminato-oblonyd, 

 anfractibus septem, timiidis, rotundatis, lavibus, oblique 

 tenuistriatis, ad stituras lira parvd spirali crenulald 

 ciuctis, columella vix truncatd, labro simplici ; cinereo- 

 crerulescente, apicem versus albicante, strigis maculisque 

 fuscis irregulariter aspersd. 

 The equatorial Achatina. Shell acuminately oblong, 

 whorls seven in number, swollen, rounded, smooth, 

 obliquely finely striated, encircled with a small spiral 

 crenulated ridge at the sutures, columella scarcely 

 truncated, lip simple ; ash-blue, whitish towards the 

 apex, sprinkled irregularly with brown streaks .ind 

 spots. 

 Bab. Banks of the river Gaboon, West Africa. 



The marking of this species, from a locality nearly on the 

 equator, is very peculiar, not disposed in regular stripes, 

 but wavy and scattered; the whorls are more than usually 

 rounded, and the apex has a papillaiy aspect. 



Species 3. (Mus. Cuming.) 

 Achatina variegata. Achat, testd conico-oblongd, basin 

 versus veutricosd, anfractibus septem ad octo, plus 

 minus subtiUter decussatis, ad suturas crenulatis, lined 

 iiupressd marginatis, colmneUd contortd, oblique trun- 

 catd, labro simplici; fulvo-albidd, strigis nigro-cas- 

 taneis undatis, hie illicfidguratis, Sftpissime pictd, niln- 

 tnelld vivide rosed. 

 The variegated Achatina. Shell conically obluny. 

 ventricose towards the base, whorls seven to eight in 

 number, more or less finely decussated, crenulated at 

 the sutm-es, margined with an impressed line, colu- 

 mella twisted, obliquely ti-uncated, lip simple ; fulvous- 

 white, most frequently painted with dark waved 

 chesnut streaks here and there zig-zag, columella 

 very deep rose. 



Februarv, 1849. 



