CARYCHIUM. 95 



course dead., but this shell fortunately does not suffer 

 much in appearance from exposure. 



It must be borne in mind that specimens found thus 

 on the river bank do not indicate the actual locality of 

 the shell, for who shall say how far they have travelled 

 before being stranded ? 



Family IV. CARYCHIID^E. 

 Genus. CARYCHIUM. 



C. MINIMUM (smallest}. 



Sub-fusiform, semi-transparent, white, rather solid, 

 glossy ; microscopically striate in the line of growth ; 

 whorls five and a half ; spire pointed ; mouth ovate, fur- 

 nished with three denticles ; umbilicus small and narrow. 



There is no mistaking this little shell when once 

 seen. It must, however, be examined under a lens in 

 order to be fully appreciated. It is worth while to 

 wait for the animal to come out and travel over a moist 

 decayed leaf, when the conspicuous black specks that 

 constitute its eyes can be seen and their sessile position 

 noted ; indeed, these eyes may be seen through the 

 shell, so dark are they and so transparent the shell. 



It is very common under stones, logs, &c., at the 

 roots of grass, and particularly among moist decaying 



