SUCCINEA. 91 



retreat within their shell, and close its aperture with a 

 membranous epiphragm. They are herbivorous. The 

 ^§"gs, which arc united together in masses by a glu- 

 tinous substance, are attached to the stems and leaves 

 of plants, or to stones near the water, and Moquin- 

 Tandon says he has even seen them under water. 



I. SucciNEA pu'tris,* Linne:. Pl. v. 



Body somewhat thick, reddish-yellow above, of a lighter 

 colour below, with minute, close-set, flattish tubercles ; tentacles 

 short, diverging, upper pair very thick ; snout large ; foot broad, 

 somewhat truncated in front, slightly pointed behind ; lingual 

 ribbon with 50 rows of 65 teeth = 3250. 



Shell ovate, thin, nearly transparent, glossy, amber-coloured, 

 frequently with a tinge of pink especially at the apex, with 

 numerous fine and somewhat irregular striae in the hne of 

 growth ; epider77iis thickish ; whorls 3-4, convex, body whorl 

 occupying quite four-fifths of the shell ; spire short, apex obtuse ; 

 suture deep and rather oblique ; moicth oval ; outer lip slightly 

 thickened, contracted above, sharp towards the pillar. 



Inhabits most parts of Great Britain, in marshy 

 places and on the banks of ditches, among sedges 

 and other plants. It is sluggish and rather irritable, 

 and its slime is abundant. The eggs are laid from 

 May to September ; they are round and hyaline, and 

 united in clusters by an albuminous covering of an 

 oblong form. The young are excluded in about fif- 

 teen days, and arrive at maturity at the end of the 

 first year. 



Var. I. subglobosa. — Shell shorter and broader in proportion 

 to its length, usually much smaller and more solid. Marshes, 

 and by the side of lakes on the sea-coast, and in mountainous 

 districts, B.C. 



* Frequenting putridity. 



