GENERAL PAPERS 137 
vided may be omitted in some cases and extended at more or 
less length in others. Since the laboratory work either as 
demonstration or as individual exercises comprises an im- 
portant part of the course, we feel that the teacher should use 
considerable choice in selecting laboratory material. 
We wish to acknowledge the help of normal students and 
assistant teachers in preparing this analysis. We invite criti- 
cism of this paper from authors and interested teachers. 
COLLECTING SNAILS IN THE SOUTHWEST 
JAmeEs H. Ferriss, JOLIET 
The intended purpose of this effort is to show the way to the 
Great Southwest—the collector’s paradise, the explorer’s 
dream—to picture its accessibility, its comforts, with a mere 
suggestion of its delights and great possibilities—to offer en- 
couragement to the hungering seeker and point the way to a 
possible remedy for those who complain of the decadence in 
natural science. 
Commencing either south or west of Kansas, the abrupt 
change in both animal and plant life has a beginning. To the 
scientific gent who desires to add to the store of knowledge, or 
carve for himself a name in an endurable form, here lies the 
territory inviting his energies. A railroad ticket for a round 
trip from Chicago to Los Angeles, or San Francisco, or both, 
good for four months with convenient stop-overs, commencing 
about July first, has been costing about $70.00. 
Better groceries and supplies can be purchased at most any 
town or switch at eastern prices, and transportation rates by 
auto, wagon or pack animals, are reasonable and the walking 
good. The packer or teamster is a guide also, with an under- 
standing of the trails and water supply, whether American or 
Mexican. 
Do not look for a servile person, dancing around to collect 
your coats, hat, goloshes and tips, for he is a free American, 
a much self-respecting citizen, good as any man, He may 
wear goatskin chaps and perform Buffalo Bill stunts, but 
probably not. The average will be a plain, practical helper, 
