95 
THE LAND SNAILS OF NEW ENGLAND. 
BY EDWARD 8S. MORSE, 
(Continued from page 16,) 
We commence the specific description of the Land Snails 
.of New England with a group of the larger forms, of 
which Helix albolabris offers a fair example. It would be 
more natural to present first a chapter on the classification 
of the animals to be considered, but we think it better 
that our readers should first become acquainted with the 
forms to be classified, that they may the better understand 
and appreciate the principles upon which the species are 
grouped into genera and families. In fact, more or less 
familiarity must be acquired on the general and special 
history of any group of animals before one can clearly 
comprehend its classification. 
It would be proper that the slugs, or those snails without 
external shells, should first engage our attention; owing 
however to the want of sufficient material for accurate 
figures, we prefer waiting till the spring opens, and an 
opportunity is afforded to examine fresh specimens, be- 
fore presenting a chapter on this group. In order that the 
descriptions of the following species may be understood, 
_ We present an explanation of the various terms used in ce 
Spire eer twists, or  , Me. 
whorls of the shell, excepting the last ~~ Ss.) 
or outside whorl, which is called the » sto — 
body whorl, Bw. The spire is said to be 
elevated, when the apex and whorls rise | 
above the body whorl, and depressed i a 
when the whorls do not rise above each other. 
