262 



SOME LAND AND FRESH-WATER SHELLS COLLECTED 

 IN THE ISLAND OF BOMBAY. 

 By A. J. Peile, R.A. 

 (Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 15th July, 1897.) 



Before going on to the fresh-water shells, I have to correct an error 

 in the description of Nanina tenuicola. The animal is possessed of shell- 

 polishing lobes, but they are not very conspicuous. They are like 

 feelers in shape, the one directed backwards lies on the body of the 

 animal and is therefore not easily distinguished. The other is directed 

 forwards in prolongation of the suture line. 



1 have also to render thanks to those members who have kindly sent 

 in specimens for the benefit of the Society's collection. 

 Part II. Feesh-water. 



Our specimens being divided into operculate and inoperculate, we 

 have of the former three families represented, the first being the well- 

 known Viviparidce (Paludinidce). 



Of this family we have two species, both common in Bombay. They 

 have some points in common, both being whitish-coloured shells 

 covered when alive by an olive-coloured periostracum or outer skin ; 

 fchey have a horny pear-shaped operculum fitting" the aperture. They 

 are ovoviviparous, the young being born with a perfectly formed shell 

 about y long. 



V, bengalensis (Lam.) is the larger of our two species, about 1|" 

 long, aperture \ u across. It is easily distinguished by a number of 

 dark lines running round the shell, three being left exposed on the 

 older or upper whorls. 



The second species, V. dissimilis (Mull.) is smaller and more squat j 

 it is distinguished principally by the squarely-angular appearance of 

 the whorls; this is particularly noticeable in young specimens. The 

 colour is olive-green without any marks, except a faint light line on 

 the bottom of the whorl. The mouth of the shell is edged with black. 



This species seems to have received the names melanostoma (Reeve), 

 prcemorsa (Bens.), remorsii (Phil.), and decussata (W. Bl). 



Second Family Ampullariid2E. 

 A. dolioides (Reeve) is a somewhat globular shell, about l| w diameter, 

 with an aperture 1^" X f", spire very slightly raised. Colour varies 



