work on Volcanic Islands, and figured in “ Proceed. Geol. Soc.,”
March 10, 1852, p. 199, pi. v. f. 10. Easily distinguished from
H. polyodon by its wide, toothless aperture.
*H. biplicata, G. B. Sow.—Described in the appendix to Mr.
Darwin’s work on Volcanic Islands, p. 155.
*H . b i l am e l l a t a , G. B. Sow.—Prom Side-Path road, near The
Briars. Described in Mr. Darwin’s work, with the last species, and
figured in “ Proceed. Geol. Soc.,” March 10,1852, p. 199, pi. v. f. 8,
Bulimus, Bruguiere.
*B. anris-vulpina, Chemn.—This true native, “ The great
extinct Land Snail of St. Helena,” is now found only in a semi-fossil
condition on the north-eastern quarter of the Island. The shells occur
in surface-beds of whitish-coloured earth on the north-western side
of Flagstaff Hill, at an altitude of 1611 feet above the sea, where
they have probably died or been carried by surface rain-water many
centuries ago. They are almost colourless, being of a dirty
brownish-white appearance. Being exceedingly anxious to discover
if this creature still lived, I explored the locality very carefully, about
four years ago, and enlisted the sympathies of some of the peasantry
in my cause. The wife of a labouring man, living in a small
cottage in the valley at the back of Longwood, assured me that she
often saw them alive, and that after heavy rains they came out of
the earth and fed upon the Hottentot Fig plants. Thinking she
meant the common garden snail (Helix aspersa), so abundant in the
same neighbourhood, I examined her on this point; but so positive
was she that she had seen the real, living Bidimus auris-vulpina, and
that her children had used them as playthings, which statement the
children confirmed, that I felt scarcely able to doubt their existence still
in a living state. Possibly some few may lurk bidden somewhere ;
but, considering the changes which have taken place in the physical
character of that part of the Island, and that the offer of a liberal
reward to my sanguine acquaintance failed to produce a living
specimen, I must confess that I am still sceptical upon this
point. I t has been recently stated that this remarkable shell is
found in a living state in China, but so interesting a discovery
requires confirmation. I t has no living analogue in Africa, but is
said to be a member of a group characteristic of Tropical America
(to which the names Plecoc/iilus, Pachyotis, and Caprella have been