HELIX NEMORALIS. 291 
The coalition or fusion of the banding is conveniently shown by enclos- 
ing the fused bands between parentheses, the formula (12)3(45) indicating 
that the first and second bands are joined together, and also the fourth and 
fifth, the third or peripheral band only being free. 
When it is desirable that the details of the mode of fusion be given with 
more precision, this method may be further perfected : thus, the formula 
[(12)(8(45))] would indicate that the bands 1 and 2 are fused together, 
and that bands 4 and 5 are also united, band 38 fusing later with the pre- 
viously ae bands 4 and 5 as is shown by its separate parenthetical 
enclosure; the whole five bands finally uniting together at the aperture, 
whieh is shown by enclosing the complete formula within brackets [ ]. 
Supplementary or extra bands are, however, occasionally present, so that 
a shell may seem to have six, seven, or more bands, and this feature is 
extraordinarily and startlingly developed in the colony at Lexington, Va., 
where a specimen with as many as twelve bands has been recorded, and 
Prof. J. L. Howe actually chronicles no less than 188 different forms of these 
multiple-banded varieties ; these additional bandlets are, however, not due 
toa real increase in number of the bands, but arise from the sub-division or 
splitting-up of the normal five, consequently these extra bands are always 
narrower than the undivided band would have been ; this sub-division it 
has been suggested can be indicated by a smaller numeral placed in the 
position of the split-off bandlet, the formula 123345 showing that the third 
band was split along its lower edge, and that the su bsidiary bandlet is 
feebly developed and rudimentary. In some cases, the split-off bandlet 
is strong and continuous, the band being separated into two or even more 
approximately equal or sub-equal parts; this would be expressed by a suitable 
repetition of the appropriate numeral, the formula 123345 showing the 
division of the third band into two equally strong and distinct bandlets. 
Fic. 350. Fic. 3651. G. 352. Fic. 353. 
Helix nemoralis L., with extra or Se ING banding, and showing the 
method of recording the variations. 
Fic. 350.—Shell showing a rudimentary bandlet split off from the lower edge of the third or peripheral 
band, the suitable notation being 123345. 
Fic. 351.—Shell SHADE a strong and continuous bandlet split off from the peripheral or third band, 
the notation being 123345. 
Fic. 352.—Shell showing a feeble and rudimentary extra band between bands three and four, which 
should be recorded as 123 * 45. 
Fic. 353.—Shell showing a strong and continuous extra band, similarly placed to that in Fig. 352, and 
recorded as 123 X 45. 
In some cases the additional bandlets may be placed equi-distantly be- 
tween two adjacent bands, so that the appropriate numerals indicating their 
origin cannot with certainty be determined ; in such cases when the band 
is distinct, continuous, and strong, a capital x is used instead of a numeral 
to indicate its presence and position, as 123x45 when the additional 
bandlet is between the third and fourth band, and a small x when the 
extra bandlet is weak and rudimentary, the formula 123x45 would show 
that the extra band though similar in position was feebly developed. 
Although the chief peculiarities of the individual shells may thus be 
readily recorded by means of the formula described, yet if the precise aspect 
