T< ^ - 
Monograph of the Genus 
STROPHI A, 
A Group of Tropical and Sub-tropical Land Shells. 
By Charles J. Maynard. 
f * * 
INTRODUCTION. 
Having had somewhat extended opportunities, during several col- 
lecting trips through the Florida Keys, Bahamas, and some of the West 
Indies, of studying the habits of the genus Strophia, I have decided to 
write a monograph of them. I am prompted to do this, partly because, 
as I have met with some twenty species living, many of which appear 
to be new to science, and thus know something of them, but mainly be- 
cause there seems to be the utmost confusion in regard to the nomen- 
clature of known species; insomuch so, in fact, that it becomes neces- 
sary to refer to the original description of each and every species, or to 
see types, before a decision can be made as to the proper name which 
should be applied to any given species. 
Through the kindness of Prof. Alex. Agassiz, I have been allowed 
to examine the extensive collection at the Museum of Comparative Zool- 
ogy at Cambridge, where Dr. J. W. Fewkes who has charge of the Mol- 
lusks, has given me every facility for prosecuting my researches. 
Strophia has usually been regarded as a sub-genus of Pupa, but 
aside from the fact that 1 do not believe in sub-genera, I am sure that 
the present group is sufficiently characteristic to receive full generic 
rank. See further remarks upon this subject, under head of General 
Conclusions. 
The group is an exceedingly plastic one, species becoming evolved 
quite readily. This is largely due to the sluggish habits of the animals; 
they not only remain quiescent at least six months in the year, attached 
to herbage or shrubbery, but judging from what I have seen of them, 
it is probable that individuals pass their entire lives in the area of a few 
