398 



LAND AND FRESH-WATER SHELLS OF N. A. [pART IV, 



aware of the animal having been yet observed ; when examined it 

 may prove to be a true Aiiculosa. If so, the synonymy will stand 

 thus : — 



Ancrdosa inflata. Lea. 

 Mdania dilatata, Conrad.* 

 Melania Rogersii, Conrad. 

 Anculotus carinatus, Anthony. 

 Anculotus Kirtlandianus, Anthony. 



The following is from Proc. Bost. Nat. Hist. Soc, i, p. 5, 

 Feb. 3, 1841. 



"The president read a letter from S. J. "Whittemore, in which was 



an extract from a letter from J. G. Anthony, Esq., of Cincinnati, stat- 



Fig. 786. . Fig. 787. ing that the Anculotus Kirtlandianus of Anthony 



was identical with the 3Ielania Rogersii of Conrad." 



It is proper to add, in concluding this very- 

 long description that the material from which 

 I have drawn my conclusions (be they good 

 or bad) has been ample, probably much more 

 so than that of which any conchologist has 

 been able heretofore to avail himself; and 

 that these conclusions were irresistibly forced 

 upon me against my preconceived convictions. Should any 

 conchologist differ from me, the value of this article will still 

 be scarcely impaired, for I have been careful, pai'ticularly with 

 that object in view, so to arrange the ^.^^ 

 order of the descriptions that, whilst 

 they exhibit the natural sequence of the 

 species and its varieties as far as pos- 

 sible, they still conform to the ideas 

 which have heretofore been current regarding them ; thus, they 

 may be divided into two, three, four or more species, and the in- 

 termediate descriptions will be found still to represent the S3'n- 

 onymy of each preceding species so selected. Varieties of this 

 shell approach very closely to dissimilis, and the two species 

 may be identical. The western species is heavier ; but differs 

 principally in the aperture being produced and recurved in 

 front. 



700. Fi 



rjg.792. 



* Tliis description was published prior to Mr. Lea's, and should therefore head the list, 

 unless il should he degraded to a syuonynie, because published as a Melania instead of an 

 Anculosa . 



