HELIX. 133 



Though resembling E. albolahris in many respects, it 

 differs in general aspect, and in many very observable 

 particulars. It is smaller, more convex, and the body 

 •whorl is more ventricose than in that species. The re- 

 flected lip is less flat and broad, and is sometimes a Uttle 

 grooved. The aperture ilR. more round, and the plane 

 of the mouth, instead of being flattened in the direction of 

 the plane of the base, is much more upright, making a 

 considerable angle -with the base of the shell. Attention 

 to these differences will enable one to distinguish the 

 shell, even before the tooth is added. In those indivi- 

 duals where the tooth is wanting, there is often a slight 

 deposition of testaceous matter in its place, not distin- 

 guishable without close observation. 



The color of the animal varies -in being more or less 

 dark; but I have never seen an individual which ap- 

 proached the white, pearly, or cream color, which is so 

 common in the animal of H. albolahris. The eggs are 

 white, one-eighth of an inch in diameter, and are laid in 

 the earth as deep as the body of the animal will extend, 

 in clusters of about twenty. 



There is certainly a strong resemblance between many 

 of our species which, with H. albolahris as their type, 

 form a well-marked division. But as their differences 

 are as constant as their resemblances, it cannot be proper 

 to unite them into one. 



When I published the first description of this shell, in 

 1837, 1 adopted, without examination, the name zaleta, 

 which I found apphed to it in some cabinets, and which 

 VOL. n. 34 



