The table referred to includes twelve other banded species of California, arranged under the same headings. It is interesting to observe that the § A 1 and B 1 groups inhabit coniferous forests, and probably feed chiefly on fungi found in decaying wood while § C, including also H. Nickliniana, Bridgesii, redimita, ramentosa, tudiculata, Californiensis (and Carpenteri?) are found in woods of oak, etc. Another group which I place in § A (as not being rugose) are found in dry, treeless localities where they seem to represent those last mentioned, the size, form, and number of whorls furnishing parallels, but being usually less in size, as might be expected of species from arid regions, and often with the band single or obscured; these are H. Tryoni[25], rufocincta, Kellettii, crebristriata, Gabbii, facta.[25]
The bandless species, of which there are few on this coast, present analogous sections as to surface characters, and exhibit much greater varieties in the form of their apertures, by which they can be arranged in groups, having a greater development of species in the Atlantic States and more distinguishable by form than by surface.
H. Townsendiana alone approaches § C in its rugose sculpture, but otherwise differs greatly from the usual types of California.
From the shells alone, five subgenera may be established out of the banded group, which I will describe in a future article.
Note.—There is a single specimen of Helix in the State Collection, supposed to have been obtained in the Mount Diablo range by Prof. Brewer, which closely resembles the small form of H. Sequoicola in shape, but being nearly bleached is too imperfect to describe minutely, though very likely a new species.
It is remarkable for having seven whorls, while the former and H. Mormonum of the same size have but six; it is also less compressed than the latter, and the umbilicus is less covered. The color where remaining is shining gamboge yellow (faded?) with a single very narrow band above the middle, not showing the pale band on each side of it that is so marked in others of the group. The sculpture seems to have been very slightly malleated, and with the faint lines of growth cut by smooth depressed waved grooves transversely, and thus obliquely to the sutures (while those of H. Traskii are parallel).
Diam. maj. 0.95; alt. 0.40 inch.
A region so near San Francisco ought to furnish more and better specimens.
There is a form referred to H. fidelis, from Humboldt Bay, which may also prove a new species. It is entirely purplish black, without bands, the lips white inside, and differs from infumata chiefly in great elevation and thicker lips, having even the subcarinate body whorl of the latter, and the same number of whorls (6½). There is, however, no trace of bristle marks, and some specimens appear to connect it with fidelis, suggesting a possibility of its being a hybrid.
The State Collection contains one specimen, obtained from the late Dr. Frick.