360 SPECIES OF THE SYSTEMA. 
Helix Algtva. 
The Helix Algira of Draparnaud’s work (Moll. Ter. et Fluv. 
France, pl. 7, f. 38, 39) is to be found in the Linnean cabinet, 
and of the shells therein contained approaches nearest in 
features to the standard required by the diagnosis. Indeed, 
were it not for the circumstance alluded to in my remarks 
upon Lusitanica, I should feel assured that one of the indi- 
viduals (the more angulated specimen) had been the actual type. 
Nevertheless, it seems passing strange that Linneus, when 
comparing this species with the preceding one, should have 
passed over its greatly superior dimensions, and should have 
omitted referring to that figure in Gualtier (pl. 3, f. G), which, 
from its general resemblance to the Draparnaudian shell, has 
been ordinarily cited for it. The studied brevity of our author’s 
descriptions renders the former circumstance of but little im- 
portance; the latter may be accounted for by the probability 
that the drawing (even if designed for the species, and this is 
doubtful) would-have been deliberately rejected, since, instead 
of the six specified whorls with a subangulated periphery, it 
exhibits only four rounded volutions. Upon the whole, then, 
the result of our investigation supports, rather than invalidates, 
the previous determination of the Linnean species. 
Menke, in the ‘Zeitschrift fiir Malakozoologie’ for 1845, 
has commented upon the absurdity of calling a shell Algira 
(Algerine), which has not been found in the Barbary States. 
Its positive absence, however, is hardly proved from the nega- 
tive testimony of the few conchologists who have prosecuted 
their researches in that region, since many snails are so 
remarkably local as to elude our pursuit, even in well- 
ascertained localities, and there seems nothing, so far as our 
limited knowledge of the geographical distribution of the 
Mollusea extends, which should prevent its appearance in 
Northern Africa. 
