180 AURICULACEA. 



It is found under stones and fragments of wood, and 

 especially among moss, in damp places. Though found 

 far removed from the influence of the sea over a wide 

 extent of country in the interior, it still possesses a fond- 

 ness for the sea in common with the other species of the 

 family. Around Boston they are found at or below the 

 surface in swamps, growing among mosses. 



It is the only species of this family inhabiting the inte- 

 rior. 



This minute shell is well known in American cabinets 

 as a Pupa. Say described it as such in 1822, though he 

 mentions the probability of its being a Carychium. It 

 has been described since that time as a Pupa by Gould, 

 DeKay, and Adams, and catalogued among the species of 

 the same genus by all the American writers who have 

 mentioned it, until 1851, when its correct position was 

 pointed out by Stimpson and Gould. The former places 

 it in his family of Melampidce. The latter thus writes : — 



" This shell should be removed to another family, under 

 the name of Carychium exiguum. Besides the peculiar 

 structure of the shell, and the form of its aperture, the 

 position of the eyes of the animal plainly remove it from 

 the true Helicidce, and associate it with the Auriculidm. 

 Its habits, and the characters of the shell, also indicate the 

 same relation." 



Dr. Binney, in 1843, (Boston Journal, p. 106,) considers 

 it a Pupa. In his great work he places it under Buli- 

 mus. 



Notwithstanding its distinct generic peculiarities hav- 

 ing been pointed out in 1851, we find the shell considered 

 as a Pupa in several American catalogues as late even as 

 1857 ; (vid. Boston Proc. vi. p. 128.) 



In 1852, Jay removed it from Pupa io Carychium; (Cat. 

 p. 263.) 



In Europe, we find its true position pointed out by 



