On Hadra gulosa, Gould
Abstract
Hadra gulosa, Gould, having been instituted by that author, the type of his genus Badistes, and by Pilsbry the type of the subsection of that name, it is desirable that an account of its soft parts should be placed on record. On acquiring two living specimens from Dr. Cox and Mr. Brazier, the opportunity is accordingly embraced of publishing the following observations.
Gould states, Otia, p. 18, that H. Pedestris, imitates in its gait the geometer caterpillars and progresses by looping its foot into undulations instead of by the usual sliding motion practised by other helices. On p. 243, he transfers this extraordinary action to the credit of H. gulosa, for which, apparently on account of this supposed peculiarity, he creates the genus Badistes. I have carefully observed the animal of gulusa, and have never seen any such gymnastic evolutions performed by it. However Messrs. C. T. Musson and C. J. Wild, both keen observers, have separately remarked this habit in Chloritis brevipila, and it seems probable that it is to this animal and not to gulosa that the observations of Drayton (Gould's collector) refer.