176 



The genus Paludomus was founded by Mr. Swainson in his ' Treatise of 

 Malacology/ forming vol. 123 of Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopaedia, for the 

 sake of distinguishing an ovate-oblong form of Melania brought from 

 Ceylon by Dr. Sibbald, and of which three species were figured by Mr. 

 Griffith in his edition of Cuvier's 'Animal Kingdom/ The genus has 

 however remained in comparative obscurity from the want of any species 

 being known of sufficiently typical character to make it appreciated. That 

 desideratum has been now supplied by the zeal of Mr. George Gardner 

 (now unfortunately deceased), of the Royal Botanic Gardens of Ceylon, a 

 gentleman much attached to Natural History, and already known to the 

 scientific world by his interesting botanical researches and ' Travels in the 

 Interior of Brazil/ 



As only one or two species approaching Melania were known, it has 

 been satisfactory to receive such an important typical addition to the group 

 as that afforded by the present series, more especially by the P. loricatus, 

 Gardneri, Tenantii, undatus, pictus, and funiculatus, all of which are 

 characterized by an oval Nerite-like form, which fully entitles them to 

 the generic distinction less significantly awarded by Mr. Swainson to the 

 Melania-like species. 



Like all fresh-water shells, the Paludomi are of a dark sombre colour, 

 always more or less eroded at the apex ; the Nerite-shaped species exhibit 

 however a very characteristic waved pattern interiorly in an incipient stage of 

 growth, which in a more advanced state is entirely overlaid by a deposit of 

 colourless matter, when they are further distinguished by a rich chocolate- 

 brown tint of colouring on the columella and edge of the aperture. The 

 animal is probably little more than a modified condition of the Melania, 

 being similar in habit, and having the same black horny operculum of a 

 more triangular form. 



Of the following species, thirteen are from Ceylon, two from the Hima- 

 layan district of India, and one from Point Palmas, Sumatra. 



I am not aware that the genus exists in any of the streams of North 

 America, but it may be said to be represented by Mr. Say's Anculotus, 

 which appears to be as peculiar to the Transatlantic district as Paludomus 

 is to the Ceylonese. 



Species. 



1. Chilinoides, Reeve. 6. loricatus, Reeve. 11. spiralis, Reeve. 



2. conicus {Mel), Gray. 7. Neritoides, id. 12. Stephanus {Mel), Ben. 



3. funiculatus, Reeve. 8. nigricans, id. 13. sulcatus, Reeve. 



4. Gardneri, id. 9. olivaceus, id. 14. Tennentii, id. 



5. globulosus {Mel), Gr. 10. pictus, id. 15. undatus, id. 



