The shell is about two inches long, and is encircled by bands of white, 

 brown, and green. This species lives in great numbers at Key West, 

 where it is associated with many small shells of the Bulimulus group. 

 Closely related to the last-mentioned shell (Liguus) is the agate shell, 

 Achatina, which attains a length of seven inches, and is the largest 

 of the land shells. Like the Bulimus, it lays eggs of large size, inclosed 

 in a calcareous shell, some being over an inch in length. Both the 

 animal and the egg are eaten by the natives of Africa. The shells are 

 very attractive, being variegated with different colors, as are the agates, 

 from which they receive their common name. 



" Another of our recently acquired political possessions, the Hawaiian 

 Islands, has a molluscan fauna peculiar to itself. This is the family 

 Acliatinelliclce, which is confined solely to these islands. There are no 

 shells that can compare in beauty with the Acliatinellas, with their 

 encircling bands of black, yellow, white, and red. They live on the 

 bushes, generally rather low and near the ground. A bush inhabited 

 by these little creatures must be a beautiful sight, with the green 

 foliage decked with their handsomely colored shells, like jewels on 

 a costly dress. These mollusks have been recently threatened with 

 extinction, because of the cattle which have been introduced into the 

 islands. These cattle, while feeding on the bushes, also consume large 

 quantities of the snails. This is a good example of how man disturbs 

 the balance of nature. 



"Ackatinella is not the only group of snails having a restricted geo- 

 graphical distribution. The genus Cerion, comprising cylindrical, pupi- 

 form shells, is somewhat restricted, being confined to the West Indian 

 Islands with the exception of two species which live in southern Florida. 

 It is also a curious fact that not a species of this genus is found in^ 



Jamaica nor in the islands of the Caribbean 

 Sea. The name Cerion is from the Greek 

 word Kcrion, signifying honey-comb, and 

 is given to these shells because the form 

 Cerion chrysalis, showing posi- of the spire resembles that of a bee-hive; 



focomotion! 1 T^ryon.) ^^ * hence the y are called bee-hive shells. These 



mollusks are peculiar, in living in the full 



glare of the tropical sun. Probably for this reason their shells are 

 whitish in color and are usually without color markings. Shells of this 

 genus are frequently found living in hot, dry localities where most snails 

 would quickly die. In this respect they resemble the desert snails. 



" Among the edible snails, none excel in public favor the common 

 edible snail of Europe, Helix pomatia. The cultivation of this snail 



48 



