ACHATINA. 183 



eyeless, lower pair consisting of minute and nearly invisible 

 bulbs ; foot compressed, ending in a pointed tail. 



Shell cylindrical, tapering, thin, transparent, very glossy, 

 white, with exceedingly faint, close-set spiral striae, which are 

 only visible under a microscope, to the naked eye the surface 

 appears quite smooth ; periphery rounded ; epidermis excess- 

 ively thin ; whorls 5i to 6, compressed, rapidly enlarging, body 

 whorl occupying about half of the length of the shell ; spire 

 with an obtuse and rounded apex ; suture somewhat deep, 

 oblique ; mouth somewhat pear-shaped, acutely angulated above, 

 deeply notched at the base; outer lip thin, flexuous, except 

 towards the pillar, where it is thick and curved; inner lip 

 a mere film spread on the base of the penultimate whorl ; 

 umbilicus wanting. 



Inhabits many parts of Great Britain and Ireland, 

 at the roots of grass and trees, and in gravel pits; 

 This remarkable mollusc is destitute of eyes. It 

 lives underground, usually at a depth of several 

 inches ; occasionally, however, it ascends to the sur- 

 face. In Yorkshire it has been found in ancient 

 Saxon coffins. In consequence of its subterranean 

 habits, this little mollusc is not easily found in a 

 living state ; its food is supposed to consist of animal 

 matter. 



SECTION II. 

 FAMILY IV. CARYCHIIDJE. 



Body spiral, capable of being entirely contained within the 

 shell ; mantle covering the front part ; snout produced ; eyes 

 seated at the hinder base of the upper tentacles, which are con- 

 tractile ; lower tentacles rudimentary ; foot oblong. 



Shell spiral, elongated ; mouth oval or somewhat ear-shaped, 

 provided with teeth ; umbilicus very small. 



The Carychiida resemble the Limnceidce in having 

 contractile tentacles, as well as in the position of 



