salt and fresh water relatives. The tropical land shells are much 

 sought after by collectors. 



" The desert snails are generally pure white. Like that of many 

 other animals, the color of the snails is in a measure protective, 

 rendering them more or less inconspicuous to their enemies. Thus 

 the desert snails live in sandy regions, and are whitish ; the Philippine 

 tree snails live among the variously colored leaves and branches of trees, 

 and are of many colors; while those species which live among moss, 

 dead leaves, and under logs, are horn-colored, or greenish. 



u We hear much of late," continued the Professor, "about our new 

 possessions, the Philippine Islands, but few people are aware that some 

 of the most beautiful of the land snails live there. These are the 

 Cochlostylas, or tree-snails, which live for the most part among the 

 branches of trees and bushes. The animals are large and bold, and 

 their shells are of surpassing beauty, with their colors of white, green, 

 brown, horn, and many other shades, as you will see when you look 

 in this case, which contains several hundred specimens. The island 

 of Luzon has probably the best known fauna, and it is to be hoped 

 that the United States government will soon complete a natural his- 

 tory survey of all the islands, so that we may know more of these 

 interesting creatures. 



" The land shells of the United States, while numerous in species, 

 are not as conspicuous in color pattern as are those of Europe, South 

 America, or the islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans ; however, 

 California produces some highly colored species, for 

 example the Epiphraginophora fidelis. The majority 

 of our species are free from bright colors, as is the 

 common white-lipped snail, Polygyra aibolabris. 



" One of the largest and most interesting of Amer- 

 ican shells is the Bulimus, found in South America. 

 The shell of Bulimus ovatus attains a length of six 

 inches, and the animal is correspondingly large. In 

 the markets of Rio Janeiro this mollusk is sold as 

 food, and is eagerly sought by the poorer people, 



, . . -in IT A xi Bulimus oblongus, 



among whom it is considered a great delicacy. Another a Brazilian snail which 



interesting fact in connection with this species, as well ^yon. C ) 



as others of the genus, is the size of the eggs which 



it deposits, they being as large as pigeons' eggs. These are also eaten 



with avidity by the negroes of Brazil. 



" One of the most beautiful of the land shells living in the United 

 States is the Lir/uus fasciatus, found in Florida and also in Cuba. 



47 



