THE MUSEUM. 



"7 



and Strawberry Butte, where it still 

 retains nearly its typical features. A 

 series of specimens from Lake Chelan, 

 Washington, is almost referable to this 

 form, being pale and larger, showing 

 that it probably ranges, perhaps some 

 what modified, much to the northward 

 of the limits shown by the present re- 

 stricted material. 



The e.xtreme phases of the group are 

 .S". (ioii^lasii of the coast and 5. d. 

 ciili/orntLni of the interior, which are 

 exceedingly unlike; the coast-forms are 

 all considerably smMexXhAn californi- 

 lus, and much more strongly colored, 

 particularly below, yet the coast and 

 interior forms appear to completely 

 intergrade through cascadensis. Cali- 

 fornicus is especially characterized by 

 the pale creamy-white to buff) color- 

 ation of the ventral surface in the sum- 

 mer pelage, and in the winter pelage, 

 by the absence in large degree of dusky 

 vermiculations, and any tinge of yel- 

 low below. The series of 32 speci- 

 mens from I't. Klamath, representing 

 all seasons of the year, are specially 

 interesting, since at about this point 

 californicus passes into cixscadcnsis. 

 Of 14 specimens in winter pelage, 

 about one- half are typical taliforniciis, 

 being white below and only slightly 

 vermiculated — about like winter speci- 

 mens from the southern Sierra Nevada; 

 the others show somewhat more verm- 

 iculation. but are all without the ful- 

 vous wash of coast specimens, except 

 one, which is heavily vertniculated and 

 as strongly suffused with fulvous below 

 as average specimens from Neah Bay. 

 Of the 1 8 summer specimens, all but 

 three are typical californicui, differing 

 very little from a similar series from 

 the mountains of central California, 

 the remaining three closely resembling 

 average coast specimens. On the 

 other hand, a series of i r specimens 

 from Siskiyou decided approaches the 

 coast form. Specimens from the War- 

 ner and Maury Mountains and Straw- 

 berry Butte are fairly typical californi- 

 cus. 



To be continued.) 



Urections and Sugij^estions- 



WHEKE TO FIND AND HOW TO COLLECT 



AND PREPARE LAND AND FRESH 



WATER SHELLS FOR THE 



CABINET. 



We publish the following brief notes 

 on collecting Land and Fresh Water 

 Shells, hoping thereby to remove some 

 of the ditTiculties that usually beset the 

 amateur collector. 



The writer will, to the extent of his 

 facilities and ability, respond to any 

 inquiries addressed to him relative to 

 the Land and Fresh Water Shells of 

 the United States, and will examine 

 and label any packages of such shells 

 sent to him, charges paid. In such 

 cases it is best to number two suites of 

 the shells you desire named, sending 

 one suite to us. We will respond, 

 giving you the name and number, if 

 possible, retaining the samples sent for 

 our trouble. 



Explorations. — It will be found gen- 

 erilly, that those sections of the coun- 

 try that have a dry sandy soil are un- 

 favorable for the production of mol- 

 luscs Regions in which pines abound 

 are usually of this character. In the 

 moist alluvial soiles of limestone re- 

 gions are found the most favorable 

 conditions for the production of mol- 

 luscs This is more notably true with 

 Land Shells, but aquatic species are 

 similarly effected, but less conspicu- 

 ously. 



Land Shells. — Are found most 

 abundantly in the -wooded alluvial re- 

 gions, where during the day they are 

 concealed under fragments of fallen 

 trees, bits of bark, chips, etc., some- 

 times under leaves and in rank tufts of 

 grass. Moist debris of shaly rocks in 

 ravines should be examined, and some 

 peculiar species in the southern states 

 are found on shrubs and trees. Some 

 species of semi-aquatic habits are found 

 under bits of flood-wood, leaves, etc., 

 near the muddy slopes of streams and 

 ponds. Among our more minute spec- 

 ie?, are some that may occasionally be 



