LIGUUS. 165 



\b. Two to four blackish bands in the typical positions, a 

 red band above the peripheral one or replacing it ; 

 aperture dark within (figs. 63, 64.) 



b l . A second green band above, both bordered be- 

 low with yellow. 



Ie. Ground color yellow, fading to white or pink above ; 

 a red line above the dark green super-peripheral band, 

 and a red band at periphery ; grass-green bands at 

 suture and base; aperture white inside (figs. 61, 62). 

 Aux Cayes. 

 II. Green bands wanting or replaced by purple. 



1I. Four dark lines in the typical positions, the lower two 

 bordered above by red bands or wanting (figs. 68, 66). 

 lib. Three red bands, no dark ones (fig. 69). 

 lie. Four dark bands or lines only, in the typical positions 



(figs. 67). 



According to Hjalmarson,*Z. virgineus lives upon the tree Hcema- 

 toxylon campecheanum, the Campeche wood, used for dyes. In water 

 the dye diffuses a -reddish-yellow color ; acted upon by acids, it be- 

 comes yellow or red ; by alkalies, violet, purple or blue. These are 

 the colors chiefly found in the shell. The epiphragm and the slime 

 of the snail are green. 



Sinistral specimens have been ^figured by Chemnitz, Kiister and 

 Ferussac, and Rolle reports the sinistral with the typical form at 

 Miragoane. 



From the data at hand, it would seem that the chief color-patterns 

 are probably local, all the shells of one "colony" being somewhat 

 similar, though the same color-form may occur in many separated 

 places. Further investigation is required to definitely speak on this 

 point. Probably sinistral shells occur of any color-pattern, and are 

 wholly sporadic ; and in that case v. Maltzan's " var. simstralis" will 

 not stand for anything of the nature of a race or variety in the true 

 sense. 



As Haiti was the first Antillean island to be settled, and for a long 

 time was visited for provisions by most vessels trading to the West 

 Indies and Spanish Main, this brilliant shell was early carried to 

 Europe, and is figured in most of the iconographic works of the last 

 century. Naturally, the habitats given by the older authors scattered 

 it wide of the mark. Linne cites figures of L. fasciatus as a var. ft of 



