The beautiful shells here selected as a further illustration of the Citron Bulimus not only show the great variability of the species, but clearly prove that B. virescens is, as I suspected, only a variety of B. citrinus. In the shell at fig. 1. the upper part of the inner lip (like that described in the Bligh Appendix), is entirely wanting; although it bears, in every other respect, the appearance of a full-grown shell; the umbilicus likewise is open; but in the shell at fig. 2. and 3. the inner lip is quite perfect, and consequently folds over the umbilicus; thus the connexion between the green and yellow varieties is completely established.
BULIMUS citrinus, (var.)
Citron Bulimus, (3 varieties.)
Generic Character.—See Pl. 4.
Specific Character.—See Pl. 46.
Varieties.
- A. Yellow, with black lines. Zool. Ill. pl. 46.
- B. Yellow, with black lines and chesnut stripes. Zool. Ill. p. 47.
- C. Yellow, variegated with green; inner lip obsolete. Fig. 1. B. virescens. Sw. Bligh Cat. p. 13.
- D. Green, striped with yellow; inner lip white. Fig. 2. 3.
- E. Orange, with flame-coloured waved stripes. Fig. 4.
- F. Pale yellow, with brown waved stripes.
- Lam. Syst. 6. 2. p. 178. 5.
I have subjoined a slight arrangement of the principal varieties; and have only further to observe, that the specific character I first proposed, appears to me the only one by which this species may be truly distinguished.
Since the description of B. aureus at pl. 47 was written, I have seen several other specimens; all of which tend to confirm my belief that it is distinct from B. citrinus.