94 RAMBLES IN SEARCH OF SHELLS. 



many species of horse tails and grasses, which con- 

 tain a large percentage of earthy salts, are on this 

 account much frequented by land snails. 



As to the mode of preparing specimens for the 

 cabinet, the animals may be killed with boiling 

 water and removed from their shells by the aid of 

 a bent pin. Those which retire too far to be reached 

 by this ordinary expedient, as Clausilia, Bulimus, 

 and others, may be Idlled by placing them in tepid 

 water, and adding gradually hot water ; the animals 

 may then be partially removed. The shells should 

 be well dried, to remove the moisture and harden 

 the soft parts remaining ; but the heat must not be 

 too great, or else the shells will be discoloured, and 

 are liable to be broken ; and, further, the specimens 

 should be well dried before placing them in the cab- 

 inet, which should be in a well ventilated place, free 

 from damp ; for their freshness and beauty are apt 

 to be lost by the growth of fungi upon their surfaces. 

 In cleaning the shells of some species, great care 

 is needed, so as not to remove the hairs or bristles 

 which clothe the surface of the epidermis. 



The shells of such snails as Paludina, Cyclostoma, 

 and others, would be imperfectly illustrated without 



