74 HELICID^. 



Geographical Distribution. Inhabits all the north- 

 ern and middle States ; very common. 



Remarks. This shell at first sight appears to be the 

 young of some of the larger species, but it has as many 

 whorls as any of them, though not attaining more than 

 one-fourth part of their size. It differs from all others 

 in having a long and pointed spire, and in its shorter 

 aperture, which is only half as long as the shell. The 

 whorls do not expand so fast from the apex towards the 

 aperture, and the last whorl consequently forms a much 

 smaller part of the whole volume of the shell. One of 

 its characters, but not entirely peculiar to it, is the loose 

 manner in which the whorls are united, the sutiu-e being 

 in some instances so deep as nearly to separate them. 

 This variety was considered by Mr. Say to be a dis- 

 tinct species, and described by him under the name of 

 Suceinea vernieta. We have carefully compared Suc- 

 cinea wardiana, Lea, with the present species, but can- 

 not detect any difference. 



In the yoimg shells the spire is not so prominent, and 

 the periostraca is covered with niunerous fine, hairy pro- 

 cesses, as in some Helices, which accumulate particles of 

 dirt, which in this way sometimes coat over its entire 

 surface. The apex of the spire is often rosy. 



Found under stones and fragments of wood in moist 

 places. 



