124 'I'HE EAR-SHELLS. 



in length, as shown in the specimens from Sonoma 

 connty, California; but it grows to a ver}' much larger 

 size in Maine, where it was discovered in 1842. 



The Aitricididae or Ear-shells inhabit salt marshes 

 and seem to love brackish water. They have strong 

 shells with short spires, and narrow, ear-shaped 

 apertures. 



The first of our species is named Alexia viyosotis^ 

 Drap., A-lex^-i-a my-o-so'-tis. Its shell is brown, 

 spindle-shaped, similar in size and form to a small 

 grain of wheat. There is a distinct fold on the col- 

 umella. Probably it was imported from Europe, as 

 it is found around the Atlantic seaports, and also near 

 San Francisco. 



CarycJmivi exiginnn^ Sa}', Ka-rik'-i-um ex-ig^- 

 u-um, is another little creature scattered through the 

 east, and found also at Portland, Oregon. The shell 

 is minute, whitish, with a distinct spire, consisting of 

 five rounded whorls. The aperture is nearly circular 

 and there is a distinct tooth on the columella. The 

 length of the shell is about one-sixteenth of an inch. 

 It is found about wharves and on stones which are 

 sometimes covered by the tides. 



Melamptis olivaceiis^ Cpr., ]\Ie-lam'-pus ol-i-va'- 

 se-us, is shown in Fig. 113. This species has a 

 pretty little pear-shaped shell, w4th a short 

 spire, an aperture long, narrow, and rounded 

 at the base, and a columella marked by two 

 folds. The color is dark brown, with lighter 

 stripes and bands. Length, half an inch; 

 Fig. 113. southern. 



Pedipes luiisulcata^Qoo^&r, Ped^i-pes u-ni-sul-ka'-ta. 

 Spire short, body-whorl large and full, columella 

 marked with very large and peculiar white folds. 



