124 ^^^^ ^^ LAND PULMONATA chap. 



of Helix aspersa have been noticed, in which the number of eggs 

 varied from about 40 to 100. They are laid in little cup-shaped 

 hollows at the roots of grass, with a little loose earth spread 

 over them. The eggs of Testacella are rather large, and very 

 elastic ; if dropped on a stone floor they will rebound sharply 

 several inches. The CocJilostyla of the Philippines lay their 

 eggs at the tops of the great forest trees, folding a leaf together 

 to serve as a protection. 



The eggs of the great tropical Bulimus and Achatina, 



together with those of the Macroon 

 group of Helix QHelicophanta^ Acavus, 

 Panda) are exceedingly large, and the 

 number laid must be decidedly less 

 than in the smaller Pulmonata. Buli- 

 mus ohlongus^ for instance, from Bar- 

 bados, lays an Qgg about the size of a 

 sparrow's CFigf- 38), Achatina si7iis- 



FiG. 38. — Newly-hatched young ^ i • ? rrn 



and egg of Buiimusobiongus trorsa as large as a pigeons, ihe 

 Miiii., Barbados. Natural Cingalese Helix Waltoni when first 



size. 



hatched is about the size of a full- 

 grown H. hortensis. There is, in the British Museum, a speci- 

 men of the egg of a Bulimus from S. America (probably maxi- 

 mus or jjopelair anus) which measures exactly 1|^ inch in length. 



The Limnaeidae deposit their eggs in irregular gelatinous 

 masses on the under side of the leaves of water-plants, and on 

 all kinds of debris. 



The Racliiglossa or marine carnivorous families lay their 

 eggs in tough leathery or bladdery capsules, which are frequently 

 joined together in shapes which differ with the genus. Each 

 capsule contains a varying number of ova. The cluster of egg- 

 capsules of Buccinum undatum is a familiar object on all our 

 sandy coasts. The capsules of Purpura lapillus are like delicate 

 pink grains of rice, set on tiny stalks. They are not attached 

 to one another, but are set closely together in groups in sheltered 

 nooks of the rocks. A single Purpura has been observed to 

 produce 245 capsules I Busycon lays disc-shaped capsules which 

 are all attached at a point in the edge to a cartilaginous band 

 nearly 3 feet in length, looking like a number of coins tied 

 to a string at equal distances from one another. In Murex 

 erinaceus the egg-capsules are triangular, with a short stalk. 



