LIMNiEA. 113 



have ever existed in Greece. From the description of 

 the armour of the Frogs, it does not appear that any 

 species in particular was intended : — 



" Form'd of the varied shells the waters yield, 

 Their glossy helmets glisten'd o'er the field." 



It is not likely that Homer was a conchologist, or distin- 

 guished one shell from another for poetical purposes. 

 The kind of shell in question must have made cumber- 

 some helmets for the valiant Frogs. 



L. stagnalis is a large and favourite object for the 

 aquarium ; and Mr. Lloyd has recorded in the ^ Zoologist^ 

 some interesting observations as to the mode of its 

 respiration. 



The shell is so much larger and longer than that of 

 any other Limnmaj that it is unnecessary to make any 

 further comparison between them. 



C. Sjpire of the shell much produced, and whorls gradually 

 enlarging. 



6. L. palus'tris*, Midler. 



Buccinum palustre, Miill. Verm. Hist. pt. ii. p. 131. Limnaus palustris, 

 F. & H iv. p. 180, pi. exxiv. f. 2. 



Body dark grey, with a tinge of violet-brown, covered with 

 fine black and yellowish-white specks : tentacles conic, curved 

 and pointed : eyes placed on smaU tubercles : foot oblong, 

 truncate and slightly notched in front, narrowing behind and 

 ending in a blunt tail. 



SuELL oblong, rather solid, of a somewhat dull hue, jeUo wish- 

 brown with sometimes a violet tint, sculptured as in Z. stag- 

 nalis, but the spiral ridges are generally more prominent and 

 numerous : epidermis rather thin : whorls 6-7, rounded and 

 moderately convex, the last occupying about two-thirds of the 

 shell : sjnre produced and tapering to a somewhat fine point : 

 suture rather deep, often margined above by a narrow white 



* Inhabiting bogs. 



