CANAR1AN GROUP. 343 



Habitat Canariam Grandem ; ad et juxta promontorium 

 ' Isleta ' dictum, in boreali insulae, et semifossUis et (multo 

 rarior) recens. 



I have not myself seen this large and variable Helix, which 

 appears to be peculiar to Grand Canary, 1 except in a subfossil 

 condition ; but I possess several examples of it subfossilized 

 which were taken by Mr. Lowe on the Isleta (the semidetached 

 subinsular promontory in the extreme north of that island), and 

 others which were found by myself on the calcareous ground 

 between the Isleta and Las Palmas, — where it has likewise been 

 met with by Mr. Watson. It is probable therefore that the 

 original specimeus which were sent by Despreaux to MM. 

 Webb and Berthelot were obtained in that same district, which 

 is so readily accessible from Las Palmas. Mousson records it 

 as having been found likewise by M. Grasset at ' Puerto de la 

 Paz ; ' but it is most likely that the latter locality was a mis- 

 print for Puerto da Luz, which is a small fishing-village ad- 

 joining the Isleta. 



The H. Saulcyi is but slightly smaller, on the average, than 

 the H. sarcostoma, which in general outline and proportions it 

 much resembles. Indeed, apart from colour (concerning which 

 I cannot form an opinion from specimens which are subfos- 

 silized), it mainly recedes from that species in its totally dif- 

 ferent surface — which is almost destitute of minute granules, 

 but is coarsely (and often deeply) sculptured or malleated, the 

 malleations having a tendency to form (at any rate on the 

 basal volution) more or less oblique subconfluent grooves ; and 

 in the lower margin of its peristome (which is altogether much 

 less developed) being, in the typical examples, more broadly 

 straightened, or well-nigh unscooped- out (and therefore nearly 

 free from an obtuse angle or tooth), internally. Its underside, 

 moreover, is liable to be rather tumid and gibbose, or suddenly 

 inflated, immediately below the aperture. 



Monsson's H. temperata (which was established on a single 

 Grand-Canarian example from the collection of M. Berthelot) 

 seems to me to differ in no respect from this extremely variable 

 species except that it is less coarsely malleated (a character, 

 judging from the specimens which are now before me, without 

 the slightest significance) and that the lower division of its 

 peristome is less straightened internally, or more suddenly 



1 The IT. Saulcyi is cited by Pfeiffer, in his first volume of the ' Mon. HeV, 

 as coming from Fuerteventura likewise ; but it is evident that both the 

 habitat and characters of the species were mixed up with those of the sareo- 

 stoma ; and there can be little doubt that the IT. Saulcyi has no claim what- 

 ever to be regarded as Fuert event uran. Indeed in his seventh volume the 

 habitat has been corrected by Pfeiffer himself. 



