378 



Various other authors, both before and since, have thought the 

 group Achatinoid, belonging to ^Stenogyra* in the former wide 

 limits of that term. We know too little of its anatomy to give a 

 definite opinion, but the presence of a glandular appendage 

 (appendix or flagellum) at the end of the penis is a feature unlike 

 any Acliatinidce. The homology of this appendage is not certain, 

 however. The position of the ureter is unknown. 1 have been 

 unable to obtain alcoholic material necessary for an investigation 

 of the relations of Glessula to Subulina, Hoinorus, Bacillum, and 

 Pseudoylessula. 



" In most (but perhaps not all) species, the lip becomes slightly 

 blunt and smooth in fully adult shells, thereby differing from 

 Subulina, which has an acute lip at all stages of growth. 



" In G. orophila, Semper found in the uterus 4 large embryos 

 with shells having fully two whorls, and a small one with a half 

 whorl and very large caudal vesicle. Various other species have 

 been found to be viviparous, while others bring forth globular 

 eggs like those of Subulina. Like that genus, also, the Glessulw 

 reproduce before attaining full size. 



" Glessula has been studied mainly by specialists on the Indian 

 fauna. Benson, W. T. Blanford, Beddome, and God win- Austen 

 have chiefly contributed to the literature. Blanford's ' Contri- 

 butions to Indian Malacology,' continued through many years of 

 the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, contain a great mass 

 of information on this genus, as on many others of the Indian 

 fauna. Hanley and Theobald illustrated most of the types of 

 Benson, amongst others, in their ' Couchologia Indica.' Finally, 

 Colonel B. H. Beddome has recently reviewed the genus in his 

 * Notes on Indian and Ceylonese Species of Glessula.' 



" From the purely conchological standpoint we may be said to 

 have an extensive knowledge of Glessula, yet various characters of 

 the first importance have been neglected. The embryonic ivhorls 

 of tlie types must all be re-examined and their sculpture described. 

 Our ignorance of the embryonic sculpture of many forms prevents 

 any natural classification of the species. The surface of the later 

 whorls in all the species should be examined under high power, 

 since some species have a minute sculpture not visible with an 

 ordinary hand-lens. 



" No fossil species of Glessula are known to me." (Pilsbry.) 



343. Glessula tenuispira, Benson. 



Achatina tenuispira, Benson, J. A. S. B. v, 1836, p. 353; Pfeiffer, 

 Mon. Helic. Viv. ii, 1848, p. 262 ; Reeve, Conch. Icon, v, 1849, 

 Achatina, pi. 16, fig. 76 ; Benson, A. M. N. H. ser. 3, v, 1860, 

 p. 464 ; Pfeiffer, Conch.-Cab., Bulimue, 1860, p. 310, pi. 25, 

 figs. 6, 7 ; Blanford, J. A. S. B. xxxiv, 1865, p. 95. 



Subulina tenuispira, Adams, Gen. Rec. Moll, ii, 1855, p. 110. 



Achatina (Subulina) tenuispira, Pfeiffer, Malak. Blatt. ii, 1856, 

 p. 169. 



