UPON CERTAIN SPECIES OF LAND MOLLUSCA LIVING IN 

 THE SOUTHERN LIMESTONE ALPS. 



By maxwell SMITH. 



(Read before the Society, March 9th, 1910). 



During a stay at Cortina, last summer, I was enabled to observe a 

 number of interesting facts in connection with the air-breathing 

 mollusca of that region. 



The town of Cortina is situated in the Ampezzo Valley at the base 

 of Mount Tofana ; a region of interest to botanists, conchologists, 

 and especially geologists. While not a [)art of the original Dolomites, 

 which were examined by Dolomieu, the geologist, it contains many 

 exposed cliffs similar to this magnesian formation. Thus it has 

 received the popular name of "Ampezzo Dolomites." To be exact 

 the term Dolomite should be applied to the Fassa, Langkofel, Rosen- 

 garten, and Schlern Mountains, and not to the Cristallo, Antelao, 

 and other peaks of the Ampezzo district. 



The region is a diversified one. The land is, in many parts, 

 especially the lower valleys, well wooded, and watered by numerous 

 streams. By the town the Ampezzo Valley is broadest. This is at 

 an elevation of 4,025 feet. The upper valleys, which are commonly 

 plateau like, are numerous. These are mostly around 5,000 feet. 

 Above 7,500 feet no snails were found. This might be accounted for 

 by the early time of collecting, before the winter snows had 

 sufficiently melted on the mountain tops. 



I was fortunate in arriving during a wet season. The rain was 

 continuous for weeks in May and June, so this facilitated collecting 

 in a region which under ordinary conditions is not so lucrative to the 

 conchologist. 



I do not consider the following list nearly complete, but merely a 

 preliminary account of the particular situations and habitats of the 

 species secured. 



Euconulus fulvus Drap. — Taken under chips on a hillside at 

 the base of rocks. They, presumably, also live in the grass. 



Eulota fruticum Drap. — Two forms were taken in a station near 

 the above. Canon Wiedemayr, who is conchologically well acquainted 

 with the Tirol, has pronounced them : 

 var. rosea. 

 var. roseofasciata. 



Vallonia pulchella Miill. — In clearings of the forests, around 

 stumps of fallen pine trees. The pine woods do not appear objection- 

 able to the species. 



