March, 1<)18] Inland MoUnsks 173 



trays or dishes at hand, to separate the species at once, or at 

 least the genera or groups. This will save a good deal of 

 subsequent work and time. 



After the specimens from a place are worked up, those of 

 each species, if identified, are placed in a box, tray or vial. 

 The latter may be corked if the specimens are perfectly dry, 

 but otherwise should be closed with a wad of cotton or sponge. 



DRIFT. 



Drift accumulated along rivers, creeks, brooks, ravines, etc., 

 after freshets and floods, in quantities from a handful or less 

 to a wagon load or more, almost always contains moUusk shells, 

 sometimes in large numbers and of many species. Generally 

 they are dead shells, but these will be of interest for faunistics 

 and often as "pointers" indicating the occurrence of a species 

 or form which had not been found before. Fine drift is gathered 

 up carefully and from heaps of coarse material it may be sepa- 

 rated by sifting. 



FOSSILS. 



Fossil shells of land and fresh-water mollusks should be 

 carefully collected wherever there is a chance for doing so. 

 If the identity of the stratum cannot be ascertained, at least the 

 locality should be exactly noted. Fossils have been collected 

 at several places in the state, but not exhaustively, and there 

 are probably others. 



IDENTIFICATION. 



This is often difficult for the beginner, especially with small 

 and minute specimens. The best he can do is to send them to 

 an expert or specialist, who wdll separate, name and return 

 them. Send them all; often only a few are sent for naming 

 and the balance kept, on the supposition that they are all 

 identical, w^hile tw^o or several species may be mixed. 



Sif tings and brushings may be sent as they are, "dirt and 

 all." Larger snails may be sent, separated or mixed up, 

 with some moss or dead leaves to prevent jarring. Many a 

 collector along other lines, an entomologist or botanist, may 

 have chances to collect specimens and to gather brushings and 

 siftings, w^hich, by the way, may yield insects or other organ- 

 isms of interest to himself. They will be of value in working 

 up our fauna and make additions to the state collection. 



