LIMN^US. 201 



In the spring, these animals are often infested 

 with a small slender species of Gordius, which affix 

 themselves to the edge of the mantle over the back 

 of the neck ; they are so common that Draparnaud 

 mistook them for the respiratory organs of the 

 animal. Montagu has also observed them on L. 

 truncatulus. 



The LimncEi principally feed on the slimy matter 

 which covers sticks, shells, and stones, beneath the 

 water and on the mud, which is constantly found 

 in the intestines. (^Haldejnann.) 



a. Shell subovate, last whorl ventncose ; mouth more 

 than half the length of the shell. (Radix Mont- 

 fort. Gulnaria Leach.^ 



90. 1. LiMN^us auricularius. Wide-mouthed Mud 

 Shell. — Shell extremely inflated, striolate, with 

 a very short acute spire ; aperture oblique, 

 vastly expanded and roundish-oval. (t. 9. f. 

 100.) 



Helix auricularia. Linn. S. N. i. 1250. ; Penn. B. Z. iv. 86. 

 f. 138.; Mont. p. 375. t. 16. f. 2. — Buccinum auricula. 

 3Iuller, Verm, ii, 126.; Sturm, Fauna, vi. 12. — Lymnsea 

 auricularia. Fleni. E. Enci/. vii. 77. ; Lamarch, Hist. vi. ii. 

 p. 161. — Lymneus auricularius. Brard, p. 140. t. 5. f. 2, 3.; 

 Turton, Man. ed. 1. 117. f. 100. — Limneus auricularius. 

 Drop. Hist. p. 49. t. 2. f. 28, 29. 32. ; Jeffreys, Linn. Trans. 

 xvi. 372. ; Bossm. Icon. i. 98. t. 2. f. 55.; Foi-bes and Hanley, 

 B. M. iv. 169. t. 123. f. 1, 2.— Bulimus auricularius. Brug. 

 E. M. i. 304. — Radix auriculatus. De Montfort. ii. p. 207. 



the case ; but still the description he gives of how the apex 

 falls off is true ; and Miiller is correct in saying the apex of 

 the shell was once perfect. 



