LOESS FOSSILS. 173 



The shells in List VIII are for the most part terrestrial, and most of 

 them occur in ordinary loess more or less commonly. The list is striking 

 because of the number of large Helices and the absence of small forms, 

 in this respect being more like the southern loess. 



It is probable that the " Helix solitaria" of the list is our Pyramidula 

 strigosa iowensis, a frequent loess fossil. Helix orbiculata may really be 

 Helicina orbiculata, a species much like our Helicina occulta, to which the 

 specimens may possibly belong. Helicina orbiculata, however, is common 

 in the loess of Natchez. Helix exarata, of this list, is a west coast species, 

 and if the determination is correct it must have been transported a great 

 distance overland. It is out of place. As for the remaining species, all the 

 species of "Helix "are strictly terrestrial. Succinea obliqua and Limnaea 

 humilis have already been discussed. 



Bulinus dealbatus should be either Bulimus dealbatus, a southern terres- 

 trial species, or it is Bulinus hyjmorum, a pond snail like Limneea and Physa 

 in habit. Valvata tricarinata and Vivipara intertexta are fluviatile, or may 

 be found in ponds. It will be of interest to ascertain their relation to the 

 other fauna as to abundance and distribution. On the whole the shells are 

 unlike those of our northern loess, but differ still more from the southern 

 loess fauna, which, so far as I have been able to determine, is absolutelv 

 without aquatic forms. 



"To these lists," writes Professor Shimek, "I can add but few names. 

 From Davenport I have specimens of Limncea humilis; from Muscatine 

 Zonitoides minuscidus (Binn.) P. & J.; from Moline Limncea humilis Say, 

 and Polygyra clausa Say." 



Since the foregoing statement was written Professor Shimek has 

 received several collections of fossils from Prof. J. A. Udden, and reports 

 upon them as follows: 



, From Division street, Davenport, Iowa, near base of loess. Collected by Prof. 

 J, A. Ucldeii: 



Helicina occulta Say. 



Succinea avara Say. 



Sphyradium edeutulum alticola (Inger.) P. & J. 



Pyramidula striatella (Anth.) Pils. 



Bifldaria peutodon (Say) Sterki. 



Limnsea palustris Mull, (fragment.) 



Limnaea caperata Say. 



Spha?rium — fragment of a valve. 



