The Ear Snails 



C. angulifera, Petit, has its angled shoulder outlined 

 with a white band, on a ground of pale chestnut or chocolate. 

 The animal walks on the submerged beach when the tide is in, 

 or scrambles over arching mangrove roots, and among stones 

 back from the water line, indifferently terrestrial and aquatic in 

 its habits. The slim tentacles bear eyes at their bases. The 

 foot is cleft behind. Length, i to i^ inches. 



Habitat. — Australia. 



Genus SCARABUS, Montf. (PYTHIA, Bolt.) 



Shell oval, laterally compressed, forming two series of varices 

 on the conoidal spire; umbilicus rimate; aperture narrowed by 

 thickened, strongly folded and toothed lips; outer lip much 

 expanded. Terrestrial mollusks living in dark places in woods 

 near shore, coming out after rains. Eggs are laid on tree trunks. 



Habitat. — Tropical islands in Old World. 



S. Lessoni, Blainv., is mottled brown and yellow above, 

 with a pale bluish bloom replacing the yellow on the side on which 

 the mouth opens. It resembles certain birds' eggs. The generic 

 name may be derived from a resemblance to the polished wing 

 covers of beetles, of the genus Scarabaeus. Length, i inch. 



Habitat. — Molucca Islands. 



Genus MELAMPUS, Montf. 



Shell ovate-conical, spire short, blunt; aperture narrow, both 

 lips crossed by several toothed folds. A widely distributed genus, 

 chiefly tropical, living on rocks or on the rank growths above 

 tide water, where they are dashed with salt spray. They seem 

 intermediate between marine and terrestrial forms. 



The Coffee Melampus, (M. coffea, Linn.) is larger and paler 

 than a grain of coffee, and spirally three-banded with white on 

 its fawn-coloured body whorl. Deep in the narrow aperture is 

 a thick white callus with about twenty cross ridges opposite 

 the columella which bears a small ridge at the anterior end of the 

 sharp peristome, and a much larger white fold considerably higher 

 up. Indians used to string and wear as beads this little West 

 Indian ear snail, which is rarely found on the gulf side of Florida. 

 Length, f inch. 



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