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THE LAND SNAILS OF NEW ENGLAND. 541 
law of Nature, which determines the origin, duration, and 
ending of every form of animal life, by the operation of 
forces of which we can see dimly some disjointed frag- 
ments, but cannot hope to ever wholly comprehend. 
THE LAND SNAILS OF NEW ENGLAND. 
BY EDWARD S. MORSE. 
vu setae k Fon pade dli) 
Tue following species belong to a group of small snails, 
whose thin polished shells furnish a distinguishing char- 
acter. Jelix indentata, described in the October number, 
belongs to this group. We promise that those who may 
have become interested in these papers will find the task 
of identification growing more and more difficult as we 
proceed, as with few exceptions the shells have very few 
distinguishing marks, and the differences are only promi- 
nent to those who make it a study. 
Hewix cerzanm Miller. (Fig. 29.) The shell of 
= this species is flattened; spire depressed, shining ; whorls 
five, thickened within at the base; color pale _ Fig. 29. 
horn, opaque white below. Diameter less than 
half an inch. Animal light indigo-blue, darker 
on head and tentacles. This species is not a native of 
this country. It has been imported from Europe to our 
Shores through the medium of commerce. As these snails 
are generally confined to cellars and gardens, their eggs 
have probably been brought to this country on wine-casks 
r on the roots of hot-house plants. In a previous number 
AS have dwelt on the extreme vitality possessed by the 
eggs of this family. A lady in Portland, in whose cellar 
