HABITS AND FACULTIES. 7 



still. It is well established by experiments on thousands of Helices, that 

 the eye peduncles, when cut off, grow out again, — that considerable 

 parts of the locomotive disc may be amputated, and the new parts 

 immediately bud out, and supply their place. The great length of time 

 they can subsist without food is another exemplification of their great 

 tenacity of life. Those species, especially, which live in dry and exposed 

 situations have this power of endurance to a remarkable degree. A 

 friend received specimens of Helix desertorum which had been collected 

 in Egypt, had been shipped to Smyrna, thence to Constantinople, thence 

 to Rio Janeiro, and finally to Boston, — occupying a period of about 

 seven months, — which appeared in full vigor when taken from the 

 papers in which they had been enveloped. They were laid away in a 

 drawer ; and on being examined three years afterwards, some of them 

 still came out. in tolerable vigor. 



As stated above, the shell-bearing genera live mostly in the forest, 

 sheltered under the trunks of fallen trees, layers of decaying leaves, 

 stones, or in the soil itself. In these situations they pass the greater 

 part of their lives. In the early days of spring, they sometimes assemble 

 in considerable numbers, in warm and sunny situations, where they pass 

 hours in indolent enjoyment of the warmth and animating influence of 

 the sunshine. Whether these meetings serve any useful purpose in the 

 economy of the animal, or are caused by the pleasurable sensation, and 

 renewed strength derived from the warmth of the situation after the 

 debility of their winter's torpidity, is uncertain ; it is probable, however, 

 that they precede the business of procreation. It is certain that they 

 last but a short time, and that after early spring the animals are to be 

 found in their usual retreats. 



In the course of the months of May or June, earlier or later, accord- 

 ing to the locality and as the season is more or less warm, they begin to 

 lay their eggs. These are deposited, to the number of from thirty to 

 fifty, and even more, in the moist and light mould, sheltered from the 

 sun's rays by leaves, or at the side of logs and stones, without any order, 

 and slightly agglutinated together. The depth of the deposit is usually 

 measured bj r the extreme length of the animal, which thrusts its head 

 and body into the soil to the utmost extent, while the shell remains at 

 the surface ; but sometimes the animal burrows three or four inches 

 deep before making the deposit, in order to insure a sufficiently moist 

 position. Three or four such deposits, and sometimes more, are made 

 by one animal during the summer and autumn. When the deposit is 



