52 Cai^vin Goodrich 



virtually straight from center to base, and at the base slightly reflected. 

 A minute projection or curve at the center of the columella suggests an in- 

 cipient "tooth," and it is this character possibly which caused Haldeman to 

 liken turgida to the Atlantic drainage A. dissimilis Say. In color the col- 

 umella is white, pinkish or reddish ; in one specimen it is purple throughout. 

 The peristome is very slightly curved and is bordered with black. 



The whorls are flat, the body whorl being subangular. No uneroded 

 shells appear in the Smith collection, but one or two individuals which retain 

 parts of the upper whorls give indication that the spire of melanoides is 

 smooth or, in instances, delicately touched with incomplete revolving lines. 

 The maximum number of whorls is probably six. 



The operculum is very thin, translucent and yellow-brown in color. The 

 growth lines are regular, somewhat wavy in places and, by transmitted light, 

 these are seen to be crossed by exceedingly fine curving lines from the basal 

 margin to the left margin below the apex. The margins are ragged, even 

 the thickened left margin being torn in some specimens. The polar point 

 normally rests upon the left margin. The spiral development could not be 

 traced. 



Mr. Smith appears to have had doubts as to melanoides being a true 

 Anculosa. It is one of the border species such as link different genera of this 

 family together, and it might be a matter of personal choice as to where 

 the naturalist shall place it. The nearest relative is Melania com pacta 

 Anth., of this group, which Tryon placed under Lithasia and which Mr. 

 Smith, in his notes and labels, pronounces no Lithasia at all. The opercu- 

 lum links up inelanoides with vittata more closely than with compacta. Un- 

 til clearly defined anatomical distinctions are discovered, the proper group- 

 ing of these shells will remain in question and any argument which could 

 be raised over shell characters of border species alone would represent 

 futile expenditure of breath. 



