ACHATINA fasciata, (var.) 

 Banded Achat ina, (3 varieties.) 



Generic Character. — See PI. 30. 



Specific Character. — See PI. 74. 

 (Young.) Aperturd hasi integrd. Base of the aperture entire. 

 Ach. pallida. Zool. III. vol. 1. pLA\. 



OiNCE the first illustration of this elegant species appeared, 



at plate 74 of this work, I have had the means of ascertaining 



a very extraordinary circumstance which takes place in the 



progressive growth of the young shell to the adult state ; and 



that is the change effected in the form and termination of the 



pillar or columella. In the noble collection of shells formed 



by the late Earl of Tankerville, there is a numerous series of 



this species ; from these I have ascertained, that in the young 



shells the base of the columella unites with the termination 



of the outer lip, making the aperture entire, similar to the 



lengthened Helices ; but, as the shell advances in growth, 



the base of the columella becomes thick, detached, as it 



were, from the marginal rim, so as to produce an intervening 



notch, and thus gives the old and the young shell not only 



an appearance of being distinct species, but of belonging 



to separate genera. From these facts, I have drawn the 



conclusion, that Achatina pallida (pi. 41), is but the young 



shell (having the margin of the aperture as yet entire) of 



Achatina fasciata; and the three additional varieties now 



figured, will, I hope, prove an interesting addition to the 



history of this species. 



PI. 162. 



