THE MUSEUM. 



59 



reason why it is thus termed, unless it 

 be that out of three hundred odd spec- 

 ies, over two-thirds of them arc found 

 in the West Indies. 



The Species found in this territory 

 are divided into four large groups, as 

 follows: Iliinit>Oi/itis, with 94 spec- 

 ies; Po/yiiiita with four species; 'I licli- 

 doiiiiis, with 173 species and Solarop- 

 sis, with 32 species. 



Taking them in the order named, we 

 have the group llciiiitiiHluis first. 

 For convenience it has been divided 

 into six sections, the first of which is 

 Cviticopsis MoRCH. The type of 

 this section is Helix Cubciisis, Pfk. 

 Si.xteen good species are recorded with 

 some varieties. Helix Macniurryi, C. 

 B. Ad. is the largest of the section 

 being fully an inch and a half across, 

 covered with a yellowish chestnut col- 

 ored cuticle, which easily rubs off. 

 Most of the species run from \ to one 

 inch, and are found in Cuba and Jam- 

 aica. Section 2 is Plagioptycha, Pfr. 

 Twenty-two species and varieties are 

 recorded of which Helix indistincta, 

 Fer. is the Type. This species is 

 about one-half inch across, depressed, 

 thin, sub-translucent, brownish, horn- 

 color. The species of this sec- 

 tion are nearly all from Hay- 

 ti. Section three is Hemitroclius, 

 Sw.-MN. of which Helix -.arians, Mke. 

 is the type. 29 species and varieties 

 are recorded. The most common 

 kinds being larians, Mke., Trose/ieli, 

 PiR. , i^il-ii, Fer., i^raininieola, C. B. 

 Ad., etc. The whole section range 

 about one-half inch in diameter. Sec- 

 tion four is Dialeuca Albers of which 

 Helix iieinoraloides, C. B. Ad. is the 

 type. Nine species and varieties are 

 recorded, and range about three- 

 fourth inch in diameter. All are from 

 Jamaica. Section five, Loryda, Al- 

 bers, contains 1 1 species. Helix 

 alauda, Fer. is the type. As a class 

 they are handsome, but not easy to 

 secure. Nearly all come from Cuba, 

 alaiida being the most common, and 

 showing the most wonderful variation. 

 Section si.x fcaniteretia, Pfr. contains 



eight species. The type is Helix iiiul- 

 fis(ri<i/a, DusH. This is a brownish, 

 lined species onr inch across. Five of 

 the eight species come from West 

 Cuba, the others from the Isle of 

 Pines, and Porto Rico. 



Group second, Polymita, Beck. 

 have only four good species accorded 

 to it. The type is Helix pieta. Born. 

 and the other three species are Helix 

 :tr!:ia>li>r,\iO'RN., H-viuseariniii, Lea. 

 and H. Broeheii, Gut. They are all 

 readily distinguished on account of 

 their brilliant colors. All are fairly 

 common, being a native of Cuba. 

 They are without any prominent lip, 

 rather thin but solid, and invariably 

 brillianted painted. In Helix picta 

 alone, one may easily select twenty 

 distinct forms of coloration. 



Group three, 'fhelidoniiis, Swain, 

 is a large one. The shells are as a 

 rule of good size, semi-globose, and are 

 confined mainly to the West Indies in 

 distribution. The group has been sub- 

 divided into ten sections, each show- 

 ing some prominent characteristic. 

 Section i, is Thelidomits, Swain, 

 proper, and Helix iiiserta, Fkr. is the 

 type. Nineteen specimens and var- 

 ieties are given place here, the most 

 prominent besides the type are H. 

 lima, Fer., //. aspera, Fer., H. dis- 

 color, Fer., H. auricoma, Fer., H. 

 provisoria, Fer., etc. All are good 

 size, yellowish to brown-colored shells. 

 Section 2, Parthcna, Alb., contains 

 1 1 species, mostly from Jamaica and 

 Porto Rico. Helix angitlata, Fer., 

 is now considered the type. Other 

 prominent species are //. doininiccnsis, 

 H. dissita, Desh., H. undnlata, Fek., 

 //. Javiaicensis, Gmel. They range 

 from \ i\ inches in size. Section 

 three, Polydontes, only contains three 

 species, but all of large size. Helix 

 imperil tor, MoNT. , is the type, and to 

 our mind the most imposing Helix in 

 the whole West Indian Group, al- 

 though some are larger. All come 

 from Cuba, The other two species are 

 H. apollo, Pfr., from E. Cuba, and 

 H. sobrina, Fer. , from Santaigo. 



