ACHATINA. 



TESTA ovata vel oblonj^o-ovata, interdum elon- 



dinalis, labio externo tenui, nunquam reflexo; 

 columella laevi, simplice, basi trimcata. 



Very properly separated by Lamarck from the Linnean 

 Bullcs, as well as from Briigiiieres Bulimi. Coiichology 

 has made such rapid progress since his time, that students 

 of the present day are astonished that Linne should 

 have united so many shells of different characters and 

 habits under one generic term. We, for our part, are 

 certainly surprized that so well characterized and distinct 

 a Genus as that under consideration should be thought 

 unnecessary, and yet may very probably incur a directly 

 opposite censure for having comprised among our Acha- 

 tinse, shells which have by some been thought sufficiently 

 distinct in character to constitute several genera. La- 

 marck himself, notwithstanding he is charged with too 

 great a fondness for innovation in this particular, shall 

 furnish us with a reason, which we who wish to avoid the 

 possibility of such a charge most gladly adopt, it is " that 

 the establishment of new genera, without absolute neces- 

 sity, is a real inconvenience to science,'^ and he pleads 

 this as a reason for not separating some of the very shells 

 which we have here united. 



The general form of the Achatincej is ovate or oblong, 

 sometimes with a lengthened, elevated spire; their aper- 

 ture is entire and longitudinal, being seldom more than 

 half the length of the shell and frequently much less; the 

 outer lip is thin^ never incrassated nor turned outwardS;, 



gata, spira elevata. 



