58 THE NAUTILUS. 



irig the extreme variations. These were usually described by 

 other naturalists, not the collectors, who based upon them as 

 many species as they had individuals, through ignorance 

 rather than intent. In conclusion, therefore, I would express 

 agreement with the opinion of the late Dr. B. E. C. Stearns, 

 who said (in N. Y. Acad. Ann., 2 : 136) that he regarded "H. 

 areolata, pandorae, veatchii and levis as varieties of a single 

 species." Pfeiffer's H. decomta may evidently be added to 

 the long list of synonymy. Doubtless more than a hundred 

 varietal names may consistently be given to the various in- 

 sular and peninsular forms occurring between San Quintiu 

 bay and Cape San Lucas when the whole region is fully ex- 

 plored. 



SOME PHILIPPINE SNAILS. 



BY T. D. A. COCKEEELL. 



My friend and former student, Dr. Cipriana Subejano, re- 

 turning from the Philippine Islands, kindly brought a number 

 of living snails collected by Mr. Maximo Oro at Los Banos, 

 Luzon. We have now had them alive for many weeks in glass 

 bowls, feeding them on cabbage, lettuce and sliced apples. 

 Some have died, but three of the immense Rhysota ovum, four 

 Cochlostyla metaformis and one C. rufogastra still remain in good 

 health. The following notes may be of interest; but I have not 

 access to the large works of Semper, Hidalgo, etc., and do not 

 know bow far the observations are new. 



Rhysota ovum Val. 



When giving us the snails Miss Subejauo stated that these 

 emitted a cry at times, resembling that of a young child or 

 small animal. For some time we wondered what she could 

 have heard, but at length the snails favored us with several 

 separate performances. The cry, a plaintive, high-pitched note, 

 is produced as the snail contracts into the shell, and is due to 

 the emission of air. It is very distinctive, but is only occasion- 

 ally noticed. The habits of R. ovum are very different from 



