110 THE NAUTILUS. 



Colonies of Ashmunella pilsbryana were found about the Har- 

 per ranch, Copper King Mountains, four miles above Clifton, 

 continuing to the mouth of the Blue river ; and Sonorellas of 

 different groups to the mouth of the little Blue, a distance by 

 river of about 25 miles. 



Many of these colonies were dead, and in others it was diffi- 

 cult to find more than two or three shells alive. The removal of 

 the trees has changed natural conditions ; formerly where deep 

 shade and a moistened leaf-mould existed, the soil now baked 

 by the sun, is barren of vegetation. Particularly is this true 

 within twenty miles of the cities and villages. The Mexican is 

 an industrious wood cutter. A white fungus growth also takes 

 posession of the rocky slides which in death turns black, and 

 carries all the lower vegetable life with it. Larger shell life is 

 seldom found in these fungus-stricken areas, where the dead 

 shells lie thick. 



While the Sonorellas are found often in the shady, ideal snail 

 talus, some of the colonies survive the timber stripping, and 

 thrive fairly v/ell among dry rocks on southern exposures, 

 often in company with Thysanaphora hornii, and if in limestone, 

 with Holospiras. 



For thirty miles above the Little Blue river only the smaller 

 species were obtained mostly Vallonias, Thysanophoras, Eu- 

 conulus and Helicodiscus. In the next twenty miles a dozen col- 

 onies of the larger Oreohelix were located. Again Oreohelix was 

 found at about 8000 ft. elevation, while crossing the San Fran- 

 cisco range from Luna to Alma ; also on Lisa Creek, draining 

 the San Francisco Mountains. 



The upper San Francisco river upon this trail had nothing to 

 offer ; but at Mongollon, 7500 feet, the snails were again found 

 friendly. A colony of small Oreohelix barbata Pils. , was found 

 in the suburbs of that city and from that point to Willow creek, 

 9000 feet, Ashmunella mogollonensis and the larger Oreohelices 

 were never out of sight, presenting interesting variations in size, 

 color and form, and also with the numerous albinos. 



At this altitude vegetation and snails thrive equally as well as 

 in eastern Tennessee, also grazing grasses, and the party camped 

 here for a couple of weeks. The trout were fine. Another 

 colony of Oreohelix barbata was found at this elevation. 



