USA > Vermont > History of Vermont, natural, civil, and statistical, in three parts, with a new map of the state, and 200 engravings > Part 28
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Pulundina porata .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell conic, horn col- or ; whorls four and a half, convex ; su- ture rather deep; apex subaente, spire as long as the aperture, the labium of which is appressed to the penultimate whorl ; umbilicus rather large. Length 0.27 in. ; breadth 0.19 inch ; divergence of the spire 72º.
REMARKS .- This species is found plen- tifully in streams and in lake Champlain. It is sometimes brownish or greenish.
Paludina lustrica .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .-- Shell ovate-elongate, horn color ; whorls four and a half, con- vex ; suture rather deep ; apex very ob- tuse ; spire as long as the aperture, which is ovate-orbicular, with the labium not appressed to the penultimate whorl, and sometimes scarcely touching it ; umbili- cus small. Length 0.16 inch ; breadth 0.11 inch ; divergence of the spire 47º.
REMARKS .- This small species is com- mon in lake Champlain. It differs from the preceding in the obtuseness of the apex, less divergence of the spire, and small umbilicus ; also in the labium, which is quite distinct from the penulti- mate whorl, so that the shell much resem- bles a valvata.
GENUS VALVATA.
Generic Characters .- Shell discoid or co. noid ; whorls cylindrical ; aperture orbienlar, not modified by the penultimate whorl; margins cou- tinnous, distinct from the penultimate whorl. Oper- culum orbicular, coucentric. Animal with the foot bilobed before ; head proboscidiforin ; tenta- cles very long, slender, obtuse, cylindrical ; eyes sessile behind the tentacles, with a branchial fil- ament resembling a third tentacle.
Vulvata tricarinata .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell depressed, conic, thin, green, obsolet ly striate ; suture
well impressed ; whorls three or four, rendered subquadrangular by the revolv- ing carine, of which two appear on the spire, and three on the last whorl; these are very much raised, rounded, equi-distant, the inferior bordering the umbilicus, which is broad and deep .- Length 0.13 inch ; breadth 0.22 inch ; di- vergence of the spire 90°, sometimes much greater.
REMARKS .- This shell, very curious on account of its carina, is comnon in lake Champlain, and in some of our streams. Varieties occur in which the middle cari- na is obsolete, or in which none are very distinct .* Other varieties have the spire less elevated, or even in the plane of the last whorl.
Valvata sincere .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .-- Shell globose-discoid, obsoletely striate, brownish-green ; whorls three and a half, accurately rounded, rap- idly enlarging to the aperture ; suture deeply impressed ; spire but little eleva- ted ; apex obtuse; umbilicas deep, about two-thirds as wide as the last whorl; mar- gin of the aperture touching the penulti- mate whorl. Length 0.1 ; breadth 0.2 inch ; divergence of the spire about 135°
REMARKS .- This shell is much like the nar. simplex of the preceding species. The umbilicus is usually a little larger, but the most striking characteristic is the rapid enlargement of the whorls, the last being more than three times the diameter of the penultimate. The divergence of the spire is never so small as in that species, but like that is sometimes much moro than in the type of the species, even to 1809.
FAMILY MELANIANA. GENUS MELANIA.
Generic Characters .- Shell turrited ; aperture entire, ovate, effuse ; columella thickened, arcuato. Oper ulum horny, subspiral. Animal oviparous ; toot short ; rostrum truncate ; tentacles filiform, . with the eyes outside, at or near their base.
Melania depygis .- SAY. Var.
DESCRIPTION .-- Shell clongate-conic, yellowish horn-color, with a broad rufous band on the whorls of the spire, with a second similar band on the lower third of the last whorl ; upper whorls carinate on the lower side ; whorls eight or nine; spire twice as long as the aperture. Length 0.53 inch ; breadth 0.22 inch ; divergence of the spire 33º.
* Var. simplex .-- GoULD.
153
INVERTEBRAL ANIMALS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 6.
FRESH WATER AND LAND SHELLS.
REMARKS .- This species is interesting, as the only representative in New Eng- land of a family whose species are so nu -. merons in the Southern and Western states. Ilere it is found only on our west- ern border in lake Champlain, where but a few specimens have been obtained. It has some claims to be regarded as a new species, differing much in its proportions from the type of Say's species. But since specimens from Ohio vary much in their proportions, we have not been satisfied that it is a distinct species.
FAMILY LIMNEANA. GENUS LIMNEA.
Generic Characters. Shell thin, oval or elon- gale ; spire elevated, more or less acute ; aperture longer than wide ; margins not continuous ; colu- mella with a single oblique fuld. No operculum. Animal hermaphrodite, spiral; head depressed ; tentacles flattened, triangular, short, with the eyes at their base, on the inner front side ; foot thin, oval, shorter than the shell.
Limnau megasoma .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell large, ovate, brown, with coarse incremental stric ; whorls five, convex ; last whorl very large, infla- ted; * suture deep ; spire two-thirds as long as the aperture, which is large. Length 2 inches; breadth 1.2 inch ; di- vergence of the spire 58º.
REMARKS .- This large and noble spe- cies was originally discovered in the North West Territory, in latitude 48º. Subsequently it has been found only in Burlington. It is very rare in cabinets, but quite recently the author of this work discovered a large number in Bur- lington, at a low stage of the water.
Limnou appressa .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell large, thin, horn color, elongate ; whorls seven ; upper ones planulate, lower ones convex, last one much enlarged and obtusely shouldered above ; suture not much impressed ; spire long, slender ; apex acute ; aperture long- oval ; margin thin and sharp ; columellar fold strong. Length 1.75 inch ; breadth 0.75 inch ; divergence of the spire above 33º, below 10º.
REMARKS .- This species has been found for the most part with the preceding at Burlington. Its claims to be regarded as distinct from the I. stagnalis, of Europe, are very slight.
Linnea gracilis .- JAY.
DESCRIPTION .-- Shell very long and slender, pale horn color ; whorls four and a half, very oblique, slightly and regular- ly convex ; suture not much impressed ; aperture more than half as long as the spire, long-oval ; labium entirely separato from the penultimate whorl, moderately reflected, with a large rima behind it, as strong as the labrum. Length 1 inch ; breadth 0. 18inch ; divergence of spire 18º.
REMARKS .- This extremely rare spe- cies was discovered by Prof. Benedict, in Lake Champlain, at Crown Point. One or two specimens have been found on the Vermont side of the lake. The shell is remarkable for its length, which is nearly six times the breadth, although the whorls are very few. The development of the labium is also very remarkable. No oth- er species can be compared with this.
Linnea pallida .- ADAMS.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell moderately elon- gate, ovate-fusiform, very pale horn color, semi-transparent, not very thin, with fine irregular striæ of growth, whorls five and a half, moderately convex; suture well impressed ; spire four-fifths as long as the aperture, acutely conic ; apex sub-acute ; body whorl not much enlarged, somewhat produced below ; columellar fold mode- rate ; nibilicus large. Length 0.48 inch ; breadth 0.22 inch ; divergence of the spire 45°.
REMARKS .- This species is rather com- mon in lake Champlain, clinging to rocks and stones. It has not yet been found in any other region except in Audover, Ms. It is sometimes nearly white. It differs from L. desidiosa in having its columella much less tortuous, and its aperture less elongated below the fold.
Linnea clodes .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell brown horn-color ; whorls seven, convex ; suture well im pressed ; spire longer than the aperture, conic, sub-acute ; lust whorl somewhat ventricose ; labium appressed closely to the penultimate whorl; columella promi- nent, with a very strong fold. Length 1.2 inch ; breadth 0.55 inch ; divergence of the spire 45°.
REMARKS -Limnaa umbrosa, SAY, is probably only a variety of this species, its principal difference consisting in the fee- bleness of its columellar fold, which is, in this species, of a variable character. This variety is much more abundant in Ver- mont than the type of L. clodes. This species differs from L. desidiosa chielly in not having the columella produced in a straight line below the fold ; from L. pallida in the less proportional size of the
* Whorls inadvertently n.ade lo revolve the wrong way in our figure.
Pr. .. 20
-
151
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT
PART L
FRESH WATER AND LAND SHELLS.
last whorl, and greater convexity of the whorls ; from L. palustris of Enrope chiefly in the greater convexity of the whorls and less acumination of the spire. By somne it is regarded as a variety of the latter.
Limnaa desidiosa .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell brown horn col- or, elongate-ovate'; whorls nearly six, slightly convex; suture distinct ; spire about as long as the aperture, which is lengthened below ; columellar fold feeble ; labium appressed : columella produced be- low the fold in a straight line. Length 0.55 inch ; breadth 0.25 inch ; divergence of the spire 45° to 550.
REMARKS .- This species is very com- mon, and is subject to great variation of form, frequently being elongated, and re- sembling L. elodes. Other individuals are short, as in Say's figure (Am. Conch.,) and the upper part of the last whorl is in- flated and more or less shouldered, while the lower part is produced as is usual. This variety approaches L. umbilicata of Mass., which has the umbilicus larger, and the lower part of the last whorl ab- breviated, inflated, and globular.
Linnaa caperata .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .-- Shell ovate, brown, with minute revolving raised lines, which are in some very distinct, and in others most- ly obsolete ; whorls nearly six, convex ; suture distinct ; spire about as long as the aperture, conic, acute ; columella reddish, slightly folded, thickened, and reflected over an umbilieus. Length 0.45 inch ; breadth 0.24 inch; divergence of the spire 57º.
REMARKS .- This species is well char- acterized by the revolving raised lines, which will generally be seen around the nmbilical region, when obsolete elsewhere. The last whorl and the aperture are more regularly rounded than in the preceding species.
GENUS P'HIYSA.
Generic Characters .- Shell heterostrophe, shi- ning, otherwise like Limuæa ; opereulum want- ing ; animal with long, slender tentacles ; having the eyes at their base on the iuner sido.
Physa uncillaria .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell ovate, yellowish brown, sometimes of a bay color ; whorls four, flattened ; suture not impressed ; spire less than one-fifth of the length of the aperture ; apex acute ; last whorl very large ; aperture acute and narrow above, wide below ; onter lip often thickened within ; columella produced in a right line below its fold. Length 0.65 inch ; breadth 0.48 inch ; divergence of the spire 110º.
REMARKS .- This species, seldom found plentifully, is not uncommon in lake Champlain. It is there found of a deep bay color.
Physa heterostropha .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .-- Shell ovate, brown ; whorls five, slightly convex; suture slight- ly impressed ; apex acute ; aperture acute and somewhat narrowed above; columel- la produced in a right line ; outer lip of- ten thickened within. Length 0.75 inch ; breadth 0.45 inch ; divergence of the spire varying in different shells from 65º tu 70°.
REMARKS .-- This species is abundant in various parts of this state. Its young are not easily distinguished from those of the preceding species.
Physa gyrina .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell long-ovate, yel- lowish brown ; whorls five, slightly con- vex ; suture moderately impressed ; apex acute ; aperture less acute above than the preceding species ; columella a little curved below ; outer lip often thickened within. Length 0.55 inch ; breadth 0.75 inch; divergence of the spire 50°.
REMARK .- This species is very rare in this state.
Physa hypnorum .- DRAP.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell elongate, yellow- ish brown ; whorls six, moderately con- vex ; suture well impressed ; apex acute ; spire nearly as long as the aperture, which is regularly narrowed to the tip; columella oblique, in its lower part turned backwards and upwards; outer lip not thickened within. Length 0.58 inch ; breadth 0.25 inch ; divergence of the spire 45 -.
REMARKS .- This species, described by Say as P. elongata, does not differ from the European shell, whose name we have prefixed to it. It is found in swamps and in small sluggish streams.
The above four species of Physa differ chiefly in the ratio of the spire to the aper- ture, and in the divergence of the former, which depends on the ratio of the length und breadth so far as it is uniform in dif- ferent parts of the spire. The gradation in these characters is parallel, as may be seen by a comparison of their measure- ments.
GENUS PLANORBIS.
Generic Characters .- Shell with the revo-
155
INVERTEBRAL ANIMALS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. G.
FRESH WATER AND LAND SHEILS.
lutions of the spire in a plane, and subsequently visible on both sides ; aperture lunated by the in- trusion of the penult whort ; operculums none ; amutual long, rolled up like the shell ; head saddle- shaped ; tentacles long, contractile, with the eyes at their inner base.
Planorbis lentus, P. corpulentus, and P. tricolvis, of SAY, are undoubtedly va- rieties of one species, to all of which the following description will apply.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell brown, sometimes greenish,coarselystriate across the whorls, of which there are four and a half; inner whorls sharply carinate on the left side ; suture very deep, except between the in- ner whorls of the left side, where it is not depressed below the carina ; inelination of the shell to the left from a perpendicu- lar 15° to 20° ; aperture extending beyond the plane of the left side, sometimes be- yond that of the right side, narrowing from the right to the left, with about three quarters of the height of the penult whorl moderately intruding. Greatest breadth 1.1 inch ; least breadth 0.36 inch ; height of aperture 0.58 inch.
REMARKS .- Sometimes the carination of the left side extends through all the whorls. The extension of the aperture on the right side is of a very variable character, especially at different ages, and in some localities the growth is very exuberant. A remarkable example of the latter case occurred in Otter Creek, just below the falls in Middlebury, where great numbers of large and beautiful spe- cimens were obtained in the spring of 1839, although they have since entirely disappeared.
Planorbis campanulatus .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell brownish or green- ish yellow, finely striate ; whorls four and a half, narrow, sub-earinate on the left side ; inner whorls on this side scarcely depressed below its plane, exhibiting the apex distinctly ; cavity of the right side very profound ; inclination from a per- pendicular to the left about 20° ; aperture abruptly campanulate, oblique, including the lower two-thirds of the height of the penult whorl. Greatest breadth 0.59 inch ; least breadth 0.45 inch ; height 0.27 inch.
while in that species, owing to the rapid enlargement of the whorls from the cen- tre, the last greatly exceeds all the others.
Planorbis bicarinatus .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell brown, or green- ish horn color ; irregularly striate across, with very slight revolving stria ; whorls three, carinate on both sides, but more acutely on the left side ; suture generally coincident with the carine except in the last semi-volution on the right side ; con- cavities of both sides equally deep, that of the right wider; inclination to the left about 20° ; aperture large, angolated by the left carina, embracing four-fifths of the length of the penult whorl. Greatest breadth 0.62 inch ; least breadth 0.44 in. ; height of aperture 0.31 inch.
REMARKS .- This species inhabits both quiet and running waters in ponds and streams of every size. It is very common.
Planorbis armigerus .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .-- Shell brownish horn color, feebly striato, shining ; whorls four, subcarinate on the left side ; right side slightly concave, left side deeply umbili- cated ; suture distinct and well impress- ed on both sides; inclination to the left about 40° ; aperture nearly orbicular, slightly intruded upon by one-fourth of the height of the penult whorl, very far within armed with six teeth, of which two are on the inner side, one on the mid- dle, elevated, lamellar, oblique, tortnous, large, the other just below it very small, nearly conical ; four on the outer side, of which the two left are large, elevated, la- mellar, oblique, converging outwardly, the two on the right small, subconie, but little elevated. Greatest breadth 0.34 inch ; least breadth 0.29 inch ; height of aperture 0.13 inch.
REMARKS .- This species is remarkable and singular in the genus for its teeth, which have been elevated by Haldeman to a generie character. It is common among dead leaves in still water. Ja swamps which are dried in the summer, it then takes refuge in the moist earth and leaves.
Planorbis exacutus .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION- Shell extremely thin and fragile, brown, sometimes enerusted with a blackish substance, meniscoid ; whorls four, carinate on the left side; inner whorl on the right side slightly depress- ed ; left side deeply umbilicaled ; last whorl much broader than all the others, convexly compressed on both sides to an extremely acute, medial carina ; inclina- tion to the left about off- ; aperture Jarge, cordiform. Greatest breadth 0.24 inch ;
REMARKS .- This species resembles some small varieties of the preceding ; but is distinguished by the abruptly campanu- Inte aperture, and the narrowness of the outer whor), which in this species is scaroely wider than the penult whorl, / least breadth 0. 19inch ; height 0.055 inch.
156
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT,
PART 1.
FRESH WATER AND LAND SHELLS.
REMARKS .- This species is more com- pressed than any other native Planorbis, the breadth being usually almost four times the height ; the regular double con- vex form is also remarkable ; also its ten- uity, a full grown specimen weighing on- ly .05 of a grain.
Planorbis parvus .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .-- Shell brownish horn color, feebly striate, shining ; whorls three and a half or four, moderately increasing ; both sides concave, but the left more than the right ; last whorl subcarinate in the middle ; inclination to the left abont 40°; aperture subelliptical, slightly modified by the intrusion of two thirds of the height of the penult whorl ; greatest breadth 0.95 inch ; least breadth 0.2 inch ; height 0.07 inch.
REMARKS .- This species is found plen- tifully in a great variety of stations.
Planorbis deflectus .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell horn color ; fine- ly striate; whorls four; last whorl well rounded, indistinctly cnrinate below ; right side convex, flattened at the apex ; left side deeply concave ; suture deep ; inclination to the left about 45º ; aperture round-ovate ; greatest breadth 0.17 inch ; least breadth 0.13 inch ; height 0.06 inch.
REMARKS .- The shell above described ig P. eleratus, ADAMS, which is probably the young of Say's species. It is very nearly allied to the preceding, but differs in the elevation of the spire on the right ride, and deeper concavity of the left, and in the absence of a medial carina ; the last whorl is also often abruptly deflected downwards.
Planorbis hirsutus .- GOUI.D.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell horn-color, striate ; epidermis green, with raised revolving hirsute lines ; whorls three and a half, last one strongly carinate in mature shells, less so in the young, and in the former often abruptly deflected downwards near its termination ; right side with a small narrow concavity ; left side sometimes generally concave, sometimes like the right ; inclination to the left about 40° to 50°, incrensing with age ; aperture nearly orbicular, scarcely modified by the intru- sion of the penult whorl. Greatest breadth 0.31 inch ; least breadth 0.25 inch ; height 0.1 inch.
REMARKS .- The mature shell resem- bles P. deflectus, but is distinguished by the medial carina of the onter whorl. It very nearly resembles P. dibus of Europe, and probably is not specifically distinct.
FAMILY COLIMACEA. GENUS SUCCINEA.
Generic Characters .- Shell ovale or ovale- conic, unber-colored ; aperture large, longer than wide ; outer hp sharp, never reflected ; columella not folded, thin ; opereulum wanting ; animal with for tentacles, with the eyes at their summit as in Helix.
Succinca obliqua .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .-- Shell ovate, striate ; whorls three, oblique ; spire half as long as the aperture ; last whorl very large and convex ; aperture ovate, nearly as broad above as below, somewhat obligne .- Length 0.97 inch; breadth 0.55 inch ; di- vergence 70°.
REMARKS .- In the New England states this shell is generally of a deep umber color, but in Ohio it is pale. It is found in moist grounds, under stones and wood. The animal is beautifully mottled with dark purple on a cream-colored ground. It goes into winter-quarters in October, forming a thin transparent epiphragm. The shell which we have described may be S. campestris, SAY, or more probably the latter is only a variety of S. obliqua.
Succinea oralis .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell ovate, somewhat conic, striate ; whorls three ; spire less than one-third as long as the aperture, small, conic ; last very large, elongate, patnlons ; aperture very large, exhibiting much of the interior of the spire, ovate. Length 0.61 inch ; breadth 0.3 inch ; di- vergence 64º.
REMARKS .-- This species is common about the margins of water. It is ex- tremely fragile.
Succinca arara .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell small, ovate, co- nic, striate ; whorls three, very convex, with the suture very deeply impressed ; spire conic, five-sevenths as long as the aperture, which is not large, ovate .- Length 0.3 inch ; breadth 0.17 inch ; di- vergence 67º.
REMARKS .- The shell which Say de- scribes under the name of S. rermeta ig probably the adult of this species. The aperture is proportionally larger in the young, as is also true of S. obliqua. When young a viscid substance attaches dirt to the shell, which becomes clean when mature.
GENUS BULIMUS.
Generic Characters .- Shell ovate, or oblong-
157
INVERTEBRAL ANIMALS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. G.
FRESH WATER AND LAND SHELLS.
ovale, with the last whort larger than the penult ; aperture longer than wide ; with the margins no! continuous ; columella smooth, sometimes trum- cale. No operculum. Animal of the form of the shell, with four tentacles, of which the larger are ocuhferous. The number of species in this genus, Including the sub-genus Achatina, exceeds two hundred. But not more than six or eight are known in the United States, and only one in New England.
Bulimus lubricus .- DRAP.
DESCRIPTION .-- Shell oblong ovate, brown, shining ; whorls six, moderately convex ; suture well impressed ; spire twice as long as the aperture, which is ovate; labrum a little thickened within, making a little more than a right angle with the columella, which is truncate. Length 0.26 inch ; breadth 0.1 inch ; di- vergence 45° in the upper part of the spire, below it is much less.
REMARKS .- This species, being com- mon over a large part of Europe, is sup- posed by some to have been introduced thence into this country. It is remark- able, on this supposition, that it should have spread as far as the lake of the Woods and lake Winnipeg. As the di- vergence below the middle is very slight, the shell, when half grown, is nearly as wide as when mature.
GENUS PUPA.
Generic Characters .- Shell cylindrical ; apex obtuse ; aperture parallel to the axis of the shell, rounded below, more or less biangular above ; mar- gina reflected, separated by n lamina appressed on the columella. No operculum. Animal with the form of the shell ; with four tentacles, of which the larger two are oculiferous at their summit, and the others are very minute.
Although a large portion of the exotic species exceed a half inch and many an inch in length, the native species are all minute, and some of them are the least of all our shells.
Pupa milium .- GOULD.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell ovate, brown, shi- ning, with slight incremental striæ not discernible without a microscope ; whorls five, convex ; suture well impressed ; apex very obtuse ; aperture horizontally trun- cate above by the penult whorl, indented on the outer lip, with six teeth, of which one is at the indenture of the labrum, two very small teeth are in the lower part of the aperture, on the left side is a larger tooth double at its base, and at right an- gles to this are two on the horizontal mar- gin ; the umbilicus is large. Length 0,06 inch ; breadth 0,03 inch.
try, was originally discovered in Middle- bury. Its weight is 0.005 of a grain. It lives under moist decaying leaves, and at the foot of limestone ledges. None bat a naturalist would find it.
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