MELAMPUS. 467 



ncltlicr the figure nor description, as given by Draparnaud, cor- 

 responds witli our shell. 



It is found under stones and fragments of wood, and especially 

 among moss in damp places. It is the only species of this family 

 inhabiting the interior, hut though found over a wide extent of 

 country, it still possesses a fondness for the sea in common with the 

 other species of the family. Around Boston it is found at or below 

 the surface in swamps, growing among mosses. 



This minute shell is well known in American cabinets as a Pupa. 

 Say described it as such in 1822, though he mentions the proba- 

 bility of its being a Carychium. It has been described since that 

 time as a Papa I)y Gould, De Kay, and Adams, and catalogued 

 among the species of the same genus by all the American writers 

 who have mentioned it, until 1851, when its correct position was 

 pointed out by Stimpson ("Shells of New England "), and Gould 

 (" Terr. Moll." ii.). The former places it in his family of Melam- 

 pidce. 



Dr. Binney, in 1843 (" Boston Journal," p. 106), considers it a 

 Papa. In the "Terrestrial MoUusks" he places it under Bulimus. 



In 1852, Jay removed it from Pupa to Carychium (Cat. p. 

 263). 



Notwithstanding its distinct generic peculiarities having been 

 pointed out in 1851, we find the shell considered as a Pupa in 

 several American catalogues as late even as 1857 (^vide " Boston 

 Proc." vi. 128). 



In Europe we find its true position pointed out by Pfeiffer as 

 early as 1811, and by all subsequent writers. 



Genus ITIELAITIPUS, Montfort. 1810. 



Foot bifid posteriorly. Shell ovate-conical ; spire short, obtuse ; 

 aperture narrow, linear ; inner lip with several transverse folds ; 

 outer lip acute, internally plicate. 



Jaw — ? 



Lingual membrane — ? 



'o^ 



Melampus bidentatus. 



Fig. 130. 



Shell ovate-conical, gray or brownish horn color; spire short and obtuse; aper- 

 ture narrow, two folds on the pillar. 



