172 The Ohio Journal of Science [Vol. XVIII, No. 5, 



the shells are wiped clean, the inside with a wad of cotton or 

 sponge, and left to dry. Shells clothed with hairs, for example, 

 Polygyra palliata and P. inflecta, should not come into contact 

 with cotton. Freshwater snails are treated in the same manner. 

 The opercula of the operculate species should be kept with their 

 shells, but not gummed in the apertures. 



Of the soft parts extracted, at least some may be preserved 

 in alcohol for future anatomical examination and they should 

 be labelled carefully. Especially specimens of doubtful identity 

 must be marked so that they are referable to their shells. 

 Alcohol of about 25% is used first, for a few days, then changed 

 to 40 or 50% and after a week or two to 60% or 70%. 



Specimens especially wanted for anatomical examination 

 are best drowned in water (preferably boiled and cooled) in 

 corked bottles placed upside down or in sealed jars. In this 

 way, they will extend more or less and the parts will be more in 

 their natural position. Slugs wanted for the collection may be 

 treated the same w^ay before being put in alcohol. 



Small and minute snails are left to themselves for days or 

 weeks, in wooden or pasteboard boxes, to give them time to 

 retire deep into their shells, when they may be dried in gentle 

 heat; medium sized ones may be scalded before drying. They 

 should not be dried in heat while fresh and this applies especially 

 to those which have lamellae and "teeth" in the apertures, or 

 deeper inside, as FupidcB, Strobilops, many ZonitidcB and the 

 small PoIygyrcE, for the animals would emerge and obstruct 

 those parts when dry, and thus make examination difficult or 

 impossible. 



SIFTINGS AND BRUSHINGS. 



These when dry may be kept with their labels in boxes, 

 paper bags or muslin sacks to be worked up at some convenient 

 time. They should be gently but thoroughly rubbed in the 

 hands in order to detach specimens clinging to leaves, debris, 

 etc. Then, work is made much easier if finer and coarser 

 materials are separated with a sieve or strainer, or with two of 

 different meshes, or by shaking to and fro on a piece of strong 

 paper. Portion after portion is spread out on the table and the 

 snails are picked out with a fine pair of pincers ; very small and 

 fragile shells are better scooped up or lifted with a moist camel's 

 hair brush. It is preferable to have a number of small boxes, 



