180 POPULAR CONCHOLOGY. 



of Europe, Van Diemen's Land, Guadaloupe, 

 &c. 



47. Auricula. — Shell oval ; spire short 

 and obtuse ; right lip in some species 

 thickened, in others sharp ; mouth 

 toothed and oblong, rather in the 

 form of an ear, often very narrow. 

 Animal having a head furnished 

 with two tentacula, and eyes at 

 their base ; foot short and narrow. — There are 

 30 species recent, and 15 fossil. 



Several species are European; others are 

 found on the banks of rivers in Brazil and 

 Madagascar, and the Indian and American 

 islands. The name is derived from a fancied 

 resemblance to the ears of some animals : they 

 are for the most part covered with an epidermis, 

 but some are frequently delicately sculptured. 



Montford proposed a new name for those 

 shells which have slightly raised varices, and 

 the mouth toothed on both sides. He calls 

 them Scarabus. They appear to be found in 

 marshy places ; though one species, S. umbrium, 

 is said to have been found on the tops of moun- 

 tains by Captain Freycinet. 



