VITALITY AND OVIPOSITION. 67 



having been received from a distant locality and kept in a 

 dry liimber-box for two years, after which they revived from 

 their torj^id condition when placed on a moist fresh leaf. 

 And yet, hovv^ever deficient in the sense of feeling, all Gas- 

 tropods exhibit great ingenuity in repairing any injuries 

 done to their shells ; and considerable skill is exercised in 

 absorbing or smoothing down such spines or irregularities 

 as disarrange their plans or obstruct their growth. 



It seems, also, as if they liked to exercise their ingenuity 

 in constructing nests, or cradles, for the reception of their 

 eggs. Who does not admire the nest of a small bird, framed 

 of leaves and mosses, and curiously lined with feathers ? 

 But not less ingeniously formed is the nest of the tree- 

 loving BulimiiSy which cements together a little cradle of 

 leaves for the reception of her beautifully white eggs, w^hich 

 are nearly as large as those of a pigeon. The Whelk deposits 

 her eggs in thin, bladder-like capsules, curiously wrought 

 together ; the TurhineUa, in a long chambered nidus, in each 

 compartment of which are from twenty to thirty embryos ; 

 and the lantJdna encloses her little progeny in a dehcate 

 film-like bag, which she attaches to her curious float; this 

 done, and having securely fastened their several cradles, or 

 nursery cells, she detaches the float, w^hich rapidly ascends 



pa 



