BULIMUS. 281 



It is very voracious in its habits. The shell is carried 

 nearly horizontally when in motion. 



Shell rather tliick, long, cylindrical, turreted ; epi- 

 dermis shining, whitish, with a slight tint of brownish or 

 yellowish ; apex obtuse ; spire gradually enlarging from 

 the apex to the aperture, commonly abruptly truncated 

 between the third and fifth whorls next the aperture ; 

 whorls remaining three to five, flat, a little wrinkled, 

 and in the last two or three slightly crenate, or plaited 

 below the suture ; suture not impressed ; aperture lateral, 

 oval, angulated supei-iorly, its plane very nearly parallel 

 with the axis of the shell ; lip simple, thickened within, 

 its columellar portion reflected. 



Axis of the truncated shell usually about one inch ; 

 diameter of the largest whorl less than half an inch. 



Geographical Distribution. The only locality in 

 the United States, which I am acquainted with, is the 

 city of Charleston, S. C. where it is very abundant in 

 gardens. Its introduction from Europe probably occur- 

 red at no very distant period. It was first observed by 

 Dr. Edmund Raveuel, in 1813. 



Remarks. The young shell is thin, transparent, and 

 fragile; the old is opaque and' rather thick. It is very 

 peculiar in respect to the manner of breaking off" and 

 abandoning successive portions of the spire. According 

 to the plan upon which the shell is projected, it would, 

 when it reaches the full size which it attains in this 



VOL. It. 71 



