Volume Iii Part 9 (1/2)

The figure is the size of life; and, with the specific character, renders a further description unnecessary.

Pl. 143

[Ill.u.s.tration]

AMPULLARIA sordida,

_Brown Apple Snail_ _f. 1. 2._

GENERIC CHARACTER.--See Pl. 103.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

_A. testa globosa, ferruginea, lineis transversis subcarinatis instructa aperturae margine tenui; umbilico magno; operculo corneo?_

Sh.e.l.l globose, ferruginous, with obsolete transverse subcarinated lines; margin of the aperture thin; umbilicus large; operculum h.o.r.n.y?

The only species of _Ampullaria_ with which this may be confounded is _A.

fasciata_, p. 103, in comparison with which it is a more globose sh.e.l.l, the aperture narrower, and the spire more obtuse; the umbilicus is larger, round, and not contracted; the suture is not sunk, the sh.e.l.l is not banded with coloured lines, nor is the surface smooth; on the contrary, it is marked with transverse, obscurely carinated lines; while the sh.e.l.l is uniform brown, the aperture within is white, margined with brown.

AMPULLARIA puncticulata

_Oval, punctured Apple Snail_

_A. testa ovata, subtilissime punctata; spira obtusa; labii exterioris margine, interiorisque basi rufis, incra.s.satis; operculo corneo?_

Sh.e.l.l oval, minutely punctured, spire obtuse; margin of the exterior lip within, and base of the inner lip thick and rufous; operculum h.o.r.n.y?

This and _A. oblonga_ are the only species I am yet acquainted with, whose form is not globose. It never grows to a size much larger than the figure; the whole sh.e.l.l is marked by fine longitudinal striae, and transverse lines of minute dots, discernible only by the aid of a common magnifier; the aperture within is brownish flesh-colour; the margin is strong and reddish, and, within that of the outer lip, is a thickened rim; which, should the operculum be testaceous, may supply the place of the groove for its reception observable in _A. globosa_ and _corrugata_. The localities of both these species are unknown to me.

Pl. 144

[Ill.u.s.tration]

EBURNA Valentiana,

_Arabian Eburna._