of three or four inches, and a little pan of water was sunk in one 

 corner to imitate a lake ; several small ferns were growing in the 

 opposite end; a piece of netting was stretched over the top to keep 

 the snails from escaping. 



A snail was crawling over the moist earth, and we watched to see 

 what it would do. It was evidently headed toward a fresh piece of let- 

 tuce leaf, w r hich had been recently placed within. The snail went 

 along slowly, moving its eye peduncles about nervously and retract- 

 ing them when they came in contact with a lump 

 of earth. Occasionally it would raise its head j&jj?J$ 



until it rested only upon the last third of its 

 foot, and then, it would twist about its head 

 and eye peduncles as though it scented danger. 



In a little while the lettuce leaf was reached. 

 Resting upon the hind part of its foot, it raised the fore part and 

 began to bite off pieces of the leaf. We could see the horny jaw 

 come out of the mouth, bite off a piece of lettuce, and then swallow 

 it, accompanying the action by a faint rasping sound. Professor Parker 

 told us that the jaw was used to bite off large pieces of vegetation, 

 which were then reduced to pulp by the action of the teeth or radula. 



The sight of the aquarium and snailery filled with living animals, 

 fired our ambition, and we plied the Professor with questions relative 

 to the immediate possession of aquariums and snaileries for each of us. 



He smilingly encouraged us in our desire, and said that almost any 

 kind of a glass jar or globe would answer the purpose. A fish globe 

 was recommended, as was also an electric battery jar, and even a quart 

 Mason fruit jar. The top, he said, should be 

 covered with netting to keep both land and 

 fresh-water snails from getting out and crawl- 

 ing about the room. Some floating water-plant 



(Jircmaria concava. A car- 

 ill the aquariums, as duckweed, bladderwort, and nivorous land snail. (Bin- 



G6V ^ 



watercress, with a few small ferns and some 



moss in the snaileries, would add to their beauty, and make them more 



homelike for their inhabitants. 



We were warned against mixing different kinds of snails in one 

 snailery, for while the majority are vegetable feeders, and perfectly 

 friendly with each other, a few are carnivorous and would prey upon 

 each other and also upon other snails. Such species as Circinaria, 

 Glandina, and Testacella were to be especially avoided. We also learned 

 that if there was not a sufficient amount of lime in the water of the 

 aquarium, the snails would eat each other's shells to obtain this necessary 



37 



