USA > Vermont > History of Vermont, natural, civil, and statistical, in three parts, with a new map of the state, and 200 engravings > Part 30
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DESCRIPTION .- Shell depressed-convex, with acnte, raised, equi-distant obliquely curved strite, which render the shell sca- brous ; epidermis horn color, variegated Vitrina pellucida .- DRAP. with rufous spots an I bars obliquely ar- DESCRIPTION .-- Shell globose-discoid, ranged ; whorls six, convex, with a well | shining, with the incremental stria ex-
163
INVERTEBRAL ANIMALS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 6.
FRESH WATER AND LAND SHELLS.
cessively minute, transparent, and nearly | eral surface." It is found under wood colorless ; whorls two and a half, scarcely and stones in varions situations. convex, with the suture but little im- pressed, sometimes with a slightly im- pressed line revolving near the suture ; aperture elliptic, not much modified by GENUS TEBENNOPHORUS .- Binney the intrusion of the penultimate whorl ; labrum, thin and sharp ; inner lip slightly reflected. Greatest . breadth 0.24 inch ; Jeast breadth 0.18 inch ; height 0.12 inch ; divergence abont 160º.
REMARKS .- This species, well known over a large part of Europe, was observed first on this continent hy Mr. Say, who remarks that it " was first found near Coldwater Lake, in lat. 483 N., under stones, fallen timber, &c. It afterwards occurred, in similar situations, until we approached Lake Superior, when it was no more seen." This side of Lake Supe- rior it has been found only at Rogers' rock, near the N. E. extremity of Lake George, within the space of a square rod. As it occurred so near to Vermont, and will very probably be found within its lim- its, we have included it among our spe- cies. It does not appear to differ from the European shell, except in the want of u greenish tinge.
GENUS LIMAS.
Generic Characters .- Avimal without a shell, oblong, convex above, furnished with a leathery shield over the anterior dorsal region ; beneath with a flattened longitudinal foot ; with four ten- tacles, of which the posterior pair are larger and oculiferous ; with the branchial cavity beneath the shield, opening on the right side.
The species of this and of kindred genera are commonly slugs, or snails, from their resemblance to the inhabitants of snail shells. In turning over stones and logs or boards, they are often seen.
Limax campestris .- BINNEY,
DESCRIPTION .-- " Color usually of vari- ous shades of amber, without spots or markings, sometimes blackish ; head and tentacles smoky. Body cylindrical, elon- gated, terminating in a very short carina ut its posterior extremity, mantle oval, fleshy, but little prominent, with five con- centric lines ; back covered with promi- nent, elongated tubercles and furrows; foot narrow, whitish ; respiratory foramen on the posterior dextral margin of the mantle ; body covered with a thin watery mucus. Length about one inch."
REMARKS .-- This species is smaller than L. agrestis, LINN. "The tuberosities of the surface are more prominent in propor- tion to their size, are not flattened or plate like, and are not separated by darker col- ored anastomosing lines, the intervening lines being of the same color as the gen-
Generic Characters .- " Mantle covering the whole superior surface of the body ; pulmonary cavity anterior, orifice on the right side towards the head ; orifice of the rectum contiguous to aud a little above and in advance of the pulmonary orifice ; organs of generation united, orifice be- hind and below the superior tentacle of the right side ; without testaceous rudiment, terminal mu- cous pore, or locomotive band of the foot."
Tebennophorus Caroliniensis .-- Bosc.
DESCRIPTION .-- Body whitish, with brownish or blackish spots arranged in three ill defined, longitudinal, anastomo- sing bands, with small spots between ; inferior margin cream colored ; foot whi- tish ; superior tentacles knobbed at the extremity, with the eyes on the upper part of the knob; "cuticle covered with irregular, vermiform glands, anastomosing with each other, and having a general tendency to a longitudinal direction, with shallow furrows between, lubricated with a watery mucus." Length, when fully extended, upwards of three inches.
REMARKS .- This species inhabits for- ests, in damp, shaded places, about de- caying wood. In the cabinet of Mid- dlebury college are two specimens, which were taken from the nest of the brown hawk, (L'ulco fuscus, GM.)
GENUS PHILOMYCUS .- Rafinesque.
Generic Characters .- Animal resembling the preceding, but entirely destitute of a mantle.
Philomycus dorsalis .- BINNEY.
DESCRIPTION .- " Color of upper sur- face ashy, with a shade of blue, an unin- terrupted black line extending down the centre of the back; superior tentacles black, about one eighth of the length of the body ; lower tentacles blackish, very short ; body cylindrical and narrow, ter- minating posteriorly in an acute point ; base of foot white, very narrow, its sepa- ration from the body not well defined ; upper surface covered with elongated and slightly prominent glandular projections, the furrows between indistinet ; respira- tory orifice very minute, situated on the right side, about one eighth of an inch he- hind the insertion of the superior tenta- cle." Length nearly an inch.
REMARKS .-- This species is found in the forests, in the soil about decaying wood. It is probably not very connnon.
161
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART L.
FRESH WATER AND LAND SHELLS.
FAMILY CALYPTRACIANA. GENUS ANCYLUS.
Generic Characters .- Shell thin, oblong-ellip- tic, obliquely conic ; apex acute, curved back- wards ; aperture elliptic ; margins sharp. Ani- mal covered, not concealed, by the shell, with two compressed tentacles and the eyes on the inner part of the base ; foot elliptic, not so wide as the body.
Aucylus parallelus. - HALDEMAN.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell nearly transpa- rent, oblong-ovate ; epidermis thin, horn color ; sides straight, slightly divergent forwards ; apex subacute, moderately ele- vated, with two fifths of the length of the shell behind, leaning to the right. Length 0,25 inch, width 0.15 inch, height 0.08 inch.
REMARKS .- This species is found in streams and ponds in many parts of the New England states. It was supposed to be Say's .A. rirularis, not on account of any resemblance between the two shells, but from the meagerness of the description. From some remarks of this learned natu- ralist, comparing ./. rirularis with A. tar- dus, it seems probable that the former is not an clongate species.
Ancylus tardus .- SsY.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell nearly transpa- rent, elliptical ; epidermis thin, horn col- or ; sides somewhat curved; apes sub- acute, elevated, a little behind the mid- dle, leaning backwards but scarcely to the right. Length 0.25 inch, width 0.16 inch, height 0.13 inch.
REMARKS .- This is at once distinguish- ed from the preceding by its proportions. A. rivularis difiers in having the apex more on one side, and one end distinctly wider than the other.
FAMILY NAIADES.
GENUS ANODONTA.
Generic Characters,-Shell equivalve, inequi- lateral, transverse ; hinge toothless ; the two mus- cular impressions remote ; ligamerd long. The shell is usually very thin. Animal with the lobes of the mantle entirely separate.
Anodontu Benedictensis .-- LEA.
ish ar greenish brown, usually with two or three dark green rays posteriorly, in old shells of a very dark color, obscuring the rays ; beaks rather small, wrinkled, approximate ; dises moderately inflated ; anterior side two thirds to one half' as long as the posterior ; hinge margin straight ; anterior and posterior margins straight and divergent above, below abruptly roun- ded into the basal margin, which is mod- erately curved throughout, except in old shells, in which it is straight or even in- curved in the middle. Dimensions of two specimens : No. 1, length 4.5 inches, height 2.75 inches, width 1.7 inch; No. 2, length 3.87 inches, height 2 5 inches, width 1.5 inch.
REMARKs .-- It will be seen in the above measurements, that the proportionate length is subject to considerable varia- tion, which affects only the posterior side, and in part is a sexual distinction. This species is abandant in lake Champlain, but is not found elsewhere. It is much larger than any other Anodonta in this state.
Anodonta marginale .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell ovate, widest be- low the beaks, thin ; epidermis yellowish and greenish brown, with very irregular stria of growth ; beals rather prominent, with numerous small wrinkles ; dises mo- derately inflated, flattened ; anterior side about two fifths as long as the posterior ; hinge margin curved ; posterior margin slightly curved in a descent of one third of the length of the shell, then rapidly rounding into the basal margin, which is nearly straight at and behind the middle ; anterior margin regularly rounded . inte- rior bluish. Length 3.8 inches, height 1.6 inch, width 1.15 inch.
REMARKS .- This species may be most . easily distinguished from the A. undulata by the greater size and very minute wrin- kles of the beaks, and the ffattening of the umnho. It has been found in Otter Creek at Wallingford. If it be not the .3. mar- ginate of Say, that species cannot now be recognized. It has been found more abundantly in Massachusetts hy Dr. Gould, on whose authority I have given it this name.
Inodonta fluviatilis -DITIWIN.
DESCRIPTION .-- Shell oblong-ovate, wi- dest behind the beaks, thin ; epidermis sinooth, yellowish, and brownish green, olivaceous posteriorly and above, where are a few obscure dark rays ; beaks quite small, with numerons small wrinkles; dises moderately inflated, convex ; ante- rior side between a third and a fourth as
DESCRIPTION .- Shell ovate-trapezoidal, thin; epidermis coar. ely striate, yellow- Ilong as the posterior; hinge margin
165
INVERTEBRAL ANIMALS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 6.
FRESH WATER AND LAND SHELLS.
straight, rising into a wing posteriorly ; posterior margin vory obliquely descend- ing to a truncate extremity ; inferior mar- gin nearly straight ; anterior margin reg- ularly rounded ; interior surface bluish, iridescent. Length 2.4 inches, height 1.25 inch, width 0.9 inch.
REMARKS .- A few small specimens of this species have been found in Middle- bury. In Massachusetts and further south it attains a much greater size. It is very similar to the preceding, but is distin- guished by its wing, small beaks, and convex dise. It more nearly resembles J. cygnca of Europe.
Anodonta undulata .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell oblong ovate, wi- dest behind the beaks, not thin, with coarse and fine strim of growth ; epider- mis yellowish, brownish, or blackish green, with numerous irregular dark green rays, which are obscured when the general color is dark ; beaks quite prom- inent, much undulated ; discs moderately inflated, convex ; anterior side usually less, sometimes more than one third as long as the posterior ; hinge margin near- ly straight ; posterior margin descending in n curve through a third of the length of the shell, then abruptly rounded into the inferior, which is slightly curved or straight ; anterior margin regularly roun- ded; interior bluish, but often covered with a light salmon colored nacre, with a dark blue or brown margin ; hinge with obsolete teeth. Dimensions of two speci- mens : No. 1, length 2.75 inches, height 1.4 inch, width 0.85 inch. No. 2, length 2.65 inches, height 1.45 inch, width 1.1 inch.
REMARKS,-This species is found in small streams and in lake Champlain .- When the epidermis is of a light color and the rays conspicuous, it is a very beanti- ful shell. More frequently it is dark, and the appearance unattractive. It is inter- mediate between this genus and the next.
GENUS ALASMODONTA.
Generic Characters .- Shell as in Anodonta, but furnished with a stout, striated, and simple or divided cardinal tooth in each valve ; also the shell is usually thicker. Animal as iu Anodonta.
black, with very distinct striwe of growth, very much developed at the margin ; beaks small, depressed, much eroded ; discs moderately inflated, flattened ; an- terior sides more than one-fourth as long as the posterior ; hinge margin regularly curved into the posterior, which descends at first very obliquely, and is then irregu- larly rounded into the basal margin ; this is incurved, and the anterior is regularly rounded ; interior with a brilliant, thick nacre, iridescent posteriorly. Length 4.9 inches; height 2.2 inches; width 1.35 inch.
REMARKS .- This species has been found at Burlington. It has been considered identical with Unio margaritiferus of En- rope, but that shell is shorter, and has the beaks more central and elevated. It yet more nearly resembles the Unio sinuatus of Europe, which is higher and has the beaks more central. Perhaps it may not be distinct from the latter. The young have the basal margin straight. It is found throughout New England.
Alasmodonta rugosa .- BARNES.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell ovate ; epidermis with irregular incremental striæe, which are mostly fine, greenish brown; beaks small, not prominent, undulate ; discs flattened, with two ridges extending pos- teriorly in slightly enrved lines, between and above which the surface is crowded with numerous crowded wrinkles, which, for the most part, run posteriorly and up- wards ; anterior side much depressed, about one-third as long as the posterior ; hinge margin arenate behind the teeth, otherwise nearly straight, ascending pos- teriorly ; posterior margin descending in a straight line to the upper minbonial an- gle ; extremity truncate between the un- bonial angles ; inferior margin nearly straight ; anterior margin regularly round- ed ; inner surface often with a light sal- mon-colored deposit. Length 4.1 inches; height 2.3 inches ; width 1.25 inch.
REMARKS .- This species is common in the western states, where it attains a greater size. Lake Champlain and the streams west of the Green Mountains ap- pear to be the most eastern limit of its habitation.
Alasmodonta undulata .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell ovate, epidermis sinooth, blackish or greenish brown, with obscure darker rays; beaks large and prominent, with large and deep undnla- tions ; discs much inflated and convex, with a ridge more or less obtuse extend- ing posteriorly ; anterior side small, one- sixth to one-third as long as the posterior ;
Alasmodonta arcuata .- BARNES. DESCRIPTION .- Shell very long ovate, arcuate ; epidermis black, or brownish | hinge margin sinuous or simply curved ;
.
166
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART I.
FRESH WATER AND LAND SHELLS.
posterior margin descending obliquely in | been found. In the western states it is a straight or slightly curved line, rounded cominon. below ; inferior margin slightly curved ; Unio gracilis .- BARNES. anterior margin regularly rounded ; inner surface bluish, sometimes with a light sal- mon-colored nacre anteriorly or through- out. Dimensions of two specimens : No. 1, length 2.2 inches; height 1.4 inch ; width 1.08 inch. No. 2, length 2.06 inch- es ; height 1.2 inch ; width 0.9 inch.
REMARKS .- This species is rather com- mon in the northern middle states .- When young the epidermis is of a lighter color, the rays are more conspicuous, and the shell is shining and beautiful.
GENUS UNIO.
Generic Characters .- Shell as in Alasmo- donta, bin is also furnished with very long lamellar lateral posterior teeth, usually one on the right valve entering between two on the left. Very rarely the right valve has one entering between two on the left. The cardinal ferth are often double, sometimes triple. Animal as in Anodon- ta.
Unio alatus .- SAY.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell ovate-triangular, moderately thick ; epidermis olive, or brownish green, with numerous fine and some coarse stria of growth ; beaks small, not prominent, in the young shell exhib- iting small wrinkles; discs moderately inflated posteriorly, compressed anterior- ly, with one or two small posterior angles
above ; anterior side small, one-fourth to one-fifth as long as the posterior ; hinge margin straight, very much elevated be- hind into a triangular connate wing, the posterior margin of which is incurved ; the remainder of the posterior and the an- terior margins are regularly rounded ; in- ferior margin nearly straight; inner sur- face usually purplish red, rarely very pale red, sometimes of a rich reddish salmon color; cardinal teeth rather small. Di- mensions of two specimens : No. 1, lengthi 5.3 inches ; height 3.85 inches ; width 1.75 inch. No. 2, length 5.9 inches; height 3.85 ; width 2.2 inches.
REMARKS .- No. 2 is a very old shell. In such the wing is nearly obsolete, and consequently the form is more ovate. This species is very abundant in Lake Champlain, east of which it has never
DESCRIPTION .- Shell ovate-triangular, rather thin ; epidermis straw-color, coarse- ly striate near the margins, otherwise smooth and shining ; beaks small, not prominent, smooth ; discs considerably inflated, convex, with two or three slight ridges proceeding posteriorly above ; an- terior side small, compressed, about one- third as long as the posterior ; hinge mar- gin nearly straight, much elevated poste- riorly into a triangular connate wing, of which the posterior margin is incurved; other margins regularly rounded, the ba- sal moderately ; inner surface iridescent, bluish, pink above ; cardinal teeth very small. Length 5 inches ; height 3.5 inch- es ; width 1.6 inch.
REMARKS .- This species has the form and size of the preceding, but is easily distinguished by the color of the epider- mis, of the nacre, greater inflation, and thinness. It is common in lake Cham- plain, and, like U. alatus, is not found any farther to the eastward, but is com. mon through the western states.
Unio compressus .- LEA.
DESCRIPTION -- Shell oblong-ovate, not thick ; epidermis grass-green, or oliva- ceous, with numerous irregular yellowish rays, with distinct striæ ; beaks small, pointed, much wrinkled ; discs moderate- ly inflated posteriorly, scarcely convex ; anterior side three-sevenths to three- eighths as long as the posterior ; hinge margin straight, rising posteriorly into a slightly elevated wing, which is often more or less connate; posterior margin descending obliquely in a straight line to a somewhat rounded truncate extremity ; inferior margin somewhat rounded ; an- terior margin regularly rounded ; interior bluish, sometimes tinged with pale brown- ish yellow ; cardinal teeth much com- pressed, on the left valve deeply and broadly bifid, or even trifid ; of the lamel- lar teeth of the left valve one is very sinall. Length 2.85 inches ; height 1.6 inch ; width 0.8 inch.
REMARKS .- This species also is found in the western states, and has its castern limit in the streamns west of the Green Mountains. It is much larger in the west.
l'ar. plebeius .- ADAMS, Epidermis oli- vaceous, rays obscure ; wing scarcely ele- vated ; lamellar teeth very small, with the three divisions of the left cardinal very remote. Length 4.3 inches ; height 2.3 inches ; width 1.25 inch. This va- riety is found in a small brook in Middle- bury.
167
INVERTEBRAL ANIMALS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. G.
FRESH WATER AND LAND SHELLS.
Unio complanatus .- LEA.
DESCRIPTION .-- Shell oblong, rather thick ; epidermis blackish or greenish brown, sometimes yellowish, with numer- ous irregular green rays ; striæ of growth rather coarse; beaks rather prominent, small ; dises compressed, sometimes con- siderably inflated, but always flattened ; anterior side from one-fifth to one-third as long as the posterior ; hinge margin nearly straight ; posterior margin a little curved, oblique ; inferior margin straight, sometimes a little incurved or excurved ; anterior margin well rounded ; nacre pur- plish red, pink, sometimes light salmon color, rarely white ; lamellar teeth nearly straight; cardinal teeth double. Dimen- sions of three specimens : No. 1, length 3.9 inches ; height 2 inches ; width 1.4 inch. No. 2, length 3 inches ; height 1.53 inch ; width 0.8 inch. No. 3, length 3.05 inches ; height 1.53 inch ; width 1.36 inch.
REMARKS .- This species is subject to great variations of form, of which the most remarkable in this state is that of a gibbous variety in lake Champlain. No. 3 is an example ; No. 2 exhibiting on the contrary a very compressed form. This species is the most common of the Naia- des in this, as in the other New England states. Immense numbers cover the shores of lake Champlain.
Unio siliquoideus .- BARNES.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell ovate, not very thick ; epidermis yellowish or somewhat greenish brown, with numerous irregular green rays, shining ; striæ of growth us- ually rather fine ; beaks small, rather prominent, wrinkled ; dises convex, tu- mid; anterior side a little more or less than one-third as long as the posterior ; inferior margin sometimes curved, some- times straight ; other margins rounded ; nacre clear white, sometimes light salmon color ; cardinal teeth equally bifid in the left valve, unequally in the other ; lateral teeth a little curved, not long. Dimen- sions of three specimens : No. 1, length 2.7 inches ; height 1.9 inch ; width 1.3 inch. No. 2, length 2.43 inches; height 1.3 inch ; width 0.85 inch. No. 3, length 3.05 inches ; height 1.65 inch ; width 1.4 Inch.
REMARKS .- This species, although al- ways ovate, varies much in the ratios of the three dimensions. To illustrate this, the above measurements are taken from examples of the greatest extremes; No. 1, of height ; No. 2, of length ; and No. 3, of width. The largest individuals are about 4 inches in length. According to Mr. Lea this species is U. lutcolns, LA- 1
MARCK, and the latter name has the right of priority ; but according to others, La- marek's species above quoted is U. cario- sus, SAY. We therefore, provisionally, give the preference to the name affixed by Mr. Barnes.
Unio ventricosus .- BARNES.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell short, ovate, not very thick ; epidermis usually pale yel- lowish brown, with green rays, of very unequal width, sometimes numerous, of- ten obsolete, except on the corselet ; smooth and shining; beaks large and prominent, wrinkled ; umbones very tu- mid, with a more or less distinct angle extending to the bottom of the posterior margin ; dises convex ; anterior side about half'as long as the posterior ; hinge mar- gin sinuous ; posterior extremity irregu- larly rounded, in the females high and truncate, in the males somewhat tapering and produced ; inferior margin more or less rounded ; anterior extremity depress- ed, well rounded ; nacre white ; cardinal teeth not large, deeply bifid ; lamellar short, distant from the beaks. Dimen- sions of three specimens : No. 1, length 5.5 inches ; height 3.3 inches ; width 2.3 inches. No. 2, length 3.35 inches ; height 2.35 inches; width 1.77 inch. No. 3, length 3.8 inches ; height 2.3 inch. ; width 1.83 inch.
REMARKS .- The variations of form are for the most part those of sex, as exhibit- ed in the above measurements. Nos. 1 and 3 are males, No. 1 being unusually large. No. 2 is a female. This species is not rare in lake Champlain, which is its most rastern limit. It is common in the western states.
Unio rectus -LAMARCK.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell very long ovate, thick ; epidermis olivaceons above or throughout, usually yellowish brown be- low, but nearly covered with dark, broad, more or less confluent, green rays ; beaks rather prominent, smooth ; dises moder- ately inflated, scarcely convex ; anterior side about one third as long as the poste- rior ; hinge margin slightly curved ; pos- terior extremity sub-rostrate ; inferior somewhat curved, straight, or in females incurved ; anterior margin rounded ; na- ere white, pink above ; cardinal teeth pink, double, both divisions stout on the left valve, also the inner one on the right. Length 5.75 inches; height 2.3 inches ; width 1.55 inch.
REMARKS .- This species is common in the western states, and has its most east- ern limit in lake Champlain, where it is rare. The females are much higher in the posterior half, in consequence of a de - velopment of the inferior margin.
168
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART }.
FRESH WATER AND LAND SHELLS.
FAMILY CONCHACEA. GENUS CYCLAS.
Generic Characters .- Shell small, thin, globose. elliptic, hinge with two minute cardinal teeth in each or in one valve, which are sometimes obso- lete, with compressed lateral teeth on each side. Animal with the manile posteriorly prolonged into two siphons, which have no retractor muscle ; fout very thin and long. .
Cyclus elegans .- ADAMS.
DESCRIPTION .- Shell subglobular, rhom- bic-orbicular, equilateral, finely and ele- gantly striated ; epidermis rather light olive green, with two straw-colored con- centric zones, of which the exterior is marginal ; beaks not prominent, slightly undulate ; umbones very thin ; within bluish ; lateral teeth large and strong ; cardinal teeth rudimentary. Length 0.43 inch ; height 0.36 inch ; width 0.26 inch.
REMARKS .- This species was discover- ed in Weybridge, in a swamp, near the site of an old Indian encampment. It has also been found at Burlington. It is re- markable for its shining and elegantly striated surface, and for its inflation, which continues far over the disc, and terminates abruptly near the margin. C. rhomboida, Sar, resembles it, but has coarse striw, no yellow zones, and the dises are less inflated. This is a rare spe- cies, and the most beautiful of the genus in our knowledge.
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