HELIX. 101 



Remarks. Although inhabiting a geographical range 

 of great extent, it is very uniform in its characters, indi- 

 viduals from the most distant localities not exhibiting any 

 considerable differences ; but -western specimens are usu- 

 ally darker, heavier, and thicker than those from the 

 North-eastern States. Destitute of brilliant tints and 

 mai-kings, it is still a beautiful species, and will always 

 attract attention in a collection by its delicately striated 

 surface, its broad white lip, its pleasing though modest 

 color, and its elegant contour. 



The animal deposits about fifty eggs at each laying, 

 which is repeated one or more times during the season. 

 The eggs are three-sixteenths of an inch in their greatest 

 diameter, and covered with minute points. The last lay- 

 ing is often delayed to so late a period of the year that 

 the earth is covered with snow before they are hatched. 

 The development of the embryo is then suspended until 

 the next spring. When newly excluded from the egg 

 the shell consists of one whorl and a half, the length of 

 its column oifcaxis being about one-eighth of an inch, and 

 its breadth somewhat less. No umbilicus is then dis- 

 cernible. I have not been able to determine how much 

 time is required to complete its growth, but I am in- 

 duced to believe that the reflected lip, the evidence of 

 maturity, is added in the second year. 



This species, as before remarked, offers but few varie- 

 ties when arrived at maturity ; but the young shell 

 might be taken for a distinct species, it being umbili- 

 cated, and destitute of the reflected lip. It is not untU 

 VOL. n. 26 



