GLESSULA. 51 



Genitalia peculiar (pi. 15, figs. 2); there is a feather-like 

 gland (fig. 3) where the vas deferens enters the penis. The 

 latter contains a short conic, perforated papilla and two of 

 longitudinal folds. The prostate gland of the hermaphrodite 

 duct consists of entirely separated narrow follicles, as in 

 Achatina. The spermatheca has a short duct. Uterus contain- 

 ing several large shells with fully 2 whorls. 



The jaw is very finely striate, almost smooth. Radula has 

 ahout 110 teeth in a transverse row. The central tooth is very 

 small, tricuspid; laterals with three cusps; outer marginal teeth 

 very finely 3- or 4-cusped ( G. orophila from Madras, according 

 to Semper). 



Type G. gemma Bens. Distribution, Oriental and Ethiopian 

 regions. 



Glessula was associated with " Oionetta" (that is, the Ferus- 

 sacida as herein understood) by Professor von Martens in 1860. 

 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 append- 

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

 unlike any Achatinida. The homology of this appendage is not 

 certain, however. The position of the ureter is unknown. I 

 have been unable to obtain alcoholic material necessary for an 

 investigation of the relations of Glessula to Subulina, Homorus, 

 Bacillum and Pseudoglessula. 



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 or 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 

 Glessulse reproduce before attaining full size. 



Glessula has been studied mainly by specialists on the Indian 

 fauna. Benson, W. T. Blanford, Beddome and Godwin- 

 Austen have chietiv contributed to thf literature. Blanford's 



