128 LIMNAIDA. 
This is the commonest and also the most variable of 
our freshwater shells, and is distributed not only over the 
whole of the British Isles, but over almost every other 
part of the Eastern Hemisphere. Mr. J. W. Taylor, in a 
most interesting and able article in the Journal of Con- 
chology, vol. v1., p. 284, says: “It is, however, interesting 
and somewhat remarkable that it has not been satisfac- 
torily shown to inhabit the continent of America.” It is 
amphibious, being frequently found crawling on mud, 
and on masses of weed out of water. 
Though there are a multitude of different varietal 
forms authenticated for the British Isles, this number by 
no means approaches that of the continental conchologists. 
But let not beginners in the science be disheartened by 
the formidable array of varietal names hereto appended 
No notice need be taken of these names; the specific 
term jferegra includes them all, and when a series of 
different forms has been obtained, the collector will 
come to the conclusion that there is something con- 
venient in the extensive differentiation after all. Care 
should be taken not to confound the labiate variety with 
L. auricularta. The body of peregra is fuller below than 
that of auricularéa; or in other words the waist of peregra 
is its broadest part, and of auricudaria the shoulder. 
Var. I. durnéttt (Ald.). Globose, rather solid, dull, 
strongly striate in line of growth ; spire scarcely elevated ; 
apex intorted. Only locality Loch Skene, Dumfriesshire ; 
