OF CONCHOLOGY. 281 



METHOD OF KILLING TERRESTRIAL PULMONIFEROUS 

 MOLLUSKS FOR THE PURPOSES OF ANATOMICAL RE- 

 SEARCH. 



BY 0. A. L. MbRCH. 



(From Journal de Conchyliologie, 350, Oct. 1868.) 



The great contractibility of pulmoniferous Mollusks at the mo- 

 ment of their death, presents an obstacle to anatomical re- 

 searches. The real position of the organs becomes difficult to 

 recognize, and sometimes the delicate parts injured ; as the dart, 

 for example, broken off and fixed in the liver or in other glands. 



On placing the Mollusks in a vessel of water, closed and de- 

 prived of air, the exterior organs will be developed, as the ten- 

 tacles and the foot ; among others, the jaw becomes protruded, 

 and upon adding a little tobacco the verge is plainly protruded 

 and may be recognized. 



The Limaces confined dry in a morsel of tobacco leaf die very 

 quickly, their jaws and verges extruded. 



Clausilias also retract themselves before death. To prevent 

 this result I have covered the aperture of the shell with wax or 

 with cotton, and drilled near the lip a hole through it large 

 enough to permit the passage of the animal, but too small to ad- 

 mit of its contraction into the shell after its tissues have become 

 swelled by the water. I have obtained in this way a preparation 

 of Clausilia laminata, in which the jaws are thrust out and the 

 tentacles extended. I recommend this process for examining 

 the jaws of the Pulmonifera, which is thus rendered extremely 

 easy. 



