Note on Yivijpara lineata^ Vol. 295 



printed work, seems to represent the carinated form of Helix pal- 



PlG. 13. 



Mesodon labiatum. 



liata. A copy of this figure is here given. 



Note on Vivipara lineata, Valenciennes. 

 By W. G. Binnet. 

 When studying the Viviparidae of Nortli America in preparing 

 the Smithsonian "Land and Fresh-water Shells of North America, 

 Part III.," I found in use, both in published works and in col- 

 lections, the name Paludina ?M?eato of Valenciennes for a species 

 of Yivipara of the United States. From the work of Humboldt 

 and Bonpland I obtained the description of Valenciennes, of 

 which an English translation is here given : — 



Paludina lineata. — This species resembles that of the Seine. It is 

 equally ventricose, but has a thinner shell. Shell ventricose-ovate, thin, 

 diaphanous, with delicate transverse strife ; greenish horn-color, with 

 numerous transverse greener vittae. Whirls five, last one large, ventri- 

 cose, and equalling in height one-half the entire length of the shell. 

 Besides the striae of growth, there are numerous transverse, very fine 

 lines. The whirls are not flattened towards the moderate suture. 

 Apex acute. Color green, sometimes somewhat corneous ground, on 

 which are a large number of bands of a deeper green and variable width, 

 sometimes merely linear. On the upper whirls the bands are obsolete. 

 Apex not eroded in any of a large number of individuals. 



Operculum brown, thin, horny, covered with numerons concentric, 

 not spiral lines. Found in Lake Erie by M. A. Michaud, who found one 

 shell full of young, as in the case of our species, which proves the species 

 to be viviparous. There is reason to believe the other species also are 

 so, though in the most natural genera species vary in being both ovi- 

 parous and viviparous. The genera of colubers and vipers among the 

 reptiles are an example of this, while the Mollusca furnish more nume- 

 rous ones. 



Length 1 inch 3 lines. '' 



