268 HELICID^. 



evidently due to the geographical proximity of their 

 locality to the island of Cuba. It occupies only the ex- 

 treme end of the peninsula, and the nearest islands, 

 whose shores are washed by the gulf stream which has 

 already swept by the northern coast of Cuba. Many of 

 the varieties of coloring and marking common to Cuban 

 specimens may be noticed among the Florida shells ; but 

 there is one well defined variety, which, so far as we 

 know, is peculiar to Florida. This variety is longer and 

 less ventricose than the others, and its aperture is less 

 ample. Upon a ground of i^ure white it is marked upon 

 the body whorl, and above and below the sutures, with 

 broad,, ill defined, pale yellow bands. The apex and 

 aperture are always white. The yellow bands are some- 

 times confluent or nearly so, and the yellow color appears 

 to be diffused over the whole surface ; more rarely the 

 shell is entirely white. The columella is only slightly 

 folded, and the lip is not crenate. The shell is some- 

 what thick. The variety is constant ; and Mr Say, 

 supposing it to be a distinct species, called it Achatina 

 solida, from the last named character. 



There are two other varieties, existing also in Cuban 

 specimens, which are well marked. The first is distin- 

 guished by grass-green Hues, more or less numerous, and 

 of greater or less diameter, and by narrow bands of the 

 same color, revolving upon a white ground. They are 

 more numerous and more distinct upon the body whorl, 

 and become almost obliterated on the posterior whorls ; 

 they are often undulating, and diflfer in the intensity of 



