70 THE NAUTILUS. 



Physa pomilia Conrad. 



This species was first described by Conrad in 1834 from forms 

 taken from Random's Creek, Claiborne Co., Ala., and was again 

 described in 1864 by Lea under the name of P. showalteri. They 

 are both the same species, but Lea's description is the most correct, 

 and was substituted by Tryon for that of Conrad. It is exclusively 

 a southern species, its habitat being the country lying south of 

 Kentucky and east of the Mississippi River. An annuan. Very 

 similar forms have been sent to me from Grand Rapids, Mich., as P. 

 shotvcdteri, but I feel confident that they are a modified form of P. 

 anatina Lea. 

 Physa microstoma Haldeman. 



This species was described from a single specimen found in Ken- 

 tucky in 1840, and has been reported by Rhodes from several places 

 in that state. Its principal character is the two obtuse teeth on 

 the columella, but the other characters are sufficient to found a spe- 

 cies upon. Some time ago I received from Mrs. Geo. Andrews, of 

 Knoxville, Tenn., several lots of shells collected in East Tennessee, 

 a large part of which bear the description of this species except the 

 teeth. It is a thick heavy elliptical shell with four to five whorls 

 not convex, with a continuous peristome, and the labium much 

 thickened anteriorly. The columella is thick and twisted so that it 

 forms a single protuberance somewhat like the tooth-like callus on 

 the columella of Bulimulus alternatus Say. The varicose bands are 

 white on the outside and reddish-chestnut on the inside. 



I do not hesitate to refer the shells sent to me from Tennessee to 

 this species. 



Physa crocata Lea. This is a closely allied form, described in 

 1864 from specimens taken in Walker Co., Georgia. It is a smaller 

 and much lighter shell. In some specimens the spire is a little more 

 exserted, and the twist in the columella not so marked. In form and 

 color, which is light brownish-ochraceous, they are the same. Both 

 are bi-annuans. Length not exceeding ^ inch. 



Habitat: Kentucky, Tennessee, northern Georgia and Alabama. 

 Physa distorta Haldeman. 



Some time ago I received from Mr. H. E. Sargent twenty little 

 shells collected near "Woodville, Ala., which I refer to this species. 

 The largest is ten mm. in length and six in diameter ; the greatest 

 diameter being near the shoulder. Its color is very light yellowish- 

 gray, whorls three, very convex, sutures very deep. Spire elevated, 



