96 HELICID&. 



worms, and even small snails. They frequent damp 

 and shady situations. Their eggs are laid in small 

 clusters, and protected by a membranous envelope. 

 In this country the genus is represented by a single 

 species only. 



VlTRINA PELLU'CIDA,* MtJLLER. PL. VII. 



Body rather slender, capable of being entirely contained 

 within the shell, slightly transparent, of a pinkish-grey colour ; 

 mantle finely spotted with black, especially behind ; tentacles 

 ashy-grey ; foot yellowish beneath and terminating in a point 

 behind. The lingual teeth consist of 100 rows, each of which 

 contains 75 ; the edge teeth are hooked ; the jaw is arched 

 backwards, nearly smooth and produced in front. 



Shell convex above, somewhat compressed beneath, very thin 

 and fragile, transparent, extremely lustrous, of a very pale 

 greenish colour, faintly striate both in the line of growth and 

 spirally; epidermis thin; whorls 3-4, body whorl occupying 

 about two-thirds of the shell ; spire very short, apex obtuse ; 

 suture grooved, but very shallow, with faint striae ; mouth 

 forming nearly four-fifths of a circle ; outer lip moderately thin ; 

 umbilicus wanting. 



Inhabits woods, hedgerows, and shady places, under 

 moss, stones, fallen trees, and decayed leaves in all 

 parts of Great Britain and Ireland. This pretty 

 mollusc is exceedingly hardy. I have frequently 

 observed it in Scotland crawling among moss and 

 dead leaves during the winter when snow was on the 

 ground. It is a restless, busy little creature, constantly 

 on the move, and it seems to be very particular about 

 its personal appearance, for with untiring diligence it 

 polishes its shell with the mantle, producing thereby 

 a gloss which does infinite credit to its industry. It 

 is possessed of some amount of cunning. Miiller 



* Transparent. 



