10 INTRODUCTION. 
as much of the character of the shell often depends upon this lip. 
Throughout the winter much may be done, except when frost fastens 
down the stones or snow covers the face of the earth. But it should 
be remembered that winter captures as a rule present a more 
weathered appearance than those taken in summer. 
It may be necessary to remind the beginner that molluscs like hot 
moist weather ; dry weather has the tendency to dry them up alto- 
gether. After a shower of rain, or even before it is over, the snails 
will come out and climb over the hedges or rocks, and the slugs com- 
mence their march towards the lettuces. Many of my most successful 
days have been spent in pouring rain. I have sometimes observed 
Helix hortensts appear before the rain has actually arrived—no doubt 
being sensitive to the moisture of the atmosphere. 
PREPARING SHELLS FOR THE CABINET. 
Univalves. 
The ‘‘ booty” should be cleaned as soon as possible after being 
captured. Plunge the shells into boiling water, and see that it does 
boil ; hot water not boiling will not do. The larger species may be 
left in for half-a-minute, but more than a few seconds is often fatal to 
the thorough cleaning of many of the smaller species—especially the 
Hyalinte, which break off short if boiled too hard. Many collectors 
advocate the addition of a spoonful of salt in the water, but I have 
never found any advantage in this. 
The animals of the larger univalves are easily extracted with a 
piece of wire or a hair-pin, but for the smaller species, as Hyalznza 
pura, fine needles are the best implements. The points of these may 
be easily bent in a candle or gas flame to different shapes and curves to 
reach obstinate fragments ‘‘round the corner.”” Common wooden 
matches form excellent handles. 
Should a fragment of the larger species remain inside, which will 
often happen in the case of the Vewvzfare, fill the shell with water 
