134- THE CALIFORNIA HELIX. 



a variety of the following, shown in Fig. 123, and 

 named Helix i^An'onta) Calif or nien sis ^ Lea, Cal-i-for- 

 ni-en'-sis. 



The original specimens from which this species 

 was named, came from Monterey, and it is in that 

 region that it grows to perfection. 

 Such a specimen has a nearly globu- 

 lar shell, quite unlike that of any 

 other of our snails. The shell is 

 rather thin, of a light horn-color 

 mottled with yellow, and is girdled by 

 a narrow brown band. The surface 

 Fig. 123. q£ ^l^g shell is cut up into fine, 



microscopic granules. Mr. Binney states that this 

 species extends as far north as Mendocino county, and 

 that it embraces many forms less globular than the 

 original. 



I have found a few living specimens at Point Cyp- 

 ress, and it is said that it may be found concealed at 

 the base of the shrubby Lupine {Lttpinus arboreiis)^ 

 which abounds at Monterey. The diameter is three- 

 fourths of an inch or less. 



Helix (yAriontd) ramentosa^ Gld., ra-men-to'-sa, is 

 considered by Mr. Binney as one of the above men- 

 tioned varieties, though it seems quite different from 

 the Monterey form. 



The specimens before me were collected in Ala- 

 meda and San Mateo counties, and I have recently 

 discovered a colony of them living near my house, 

 around an old oak-stump. They resemble the last 

 species in respect to the surface of their shells, for 

 these are cut into innumerable checks, which are 

 shown by a lens to consist of little oblong grains, 

 arranged" parallel to the lines of growth. The shell 



