I 24 EGGS OF LAND PULMONATA chap. 



of Helix aspersa have been noticed, in which the ninnber 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 TcstaccUa are rather large, and 

 very elastic ; if dropped on a stone floor they will rel)Ound 

 sharply several inches. The Coclilostyla of the Philippines lay 

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

 together to serve as a protection. 



The eo-Q-s of the ureat troincal Bulimus and Acliatina, 

 together with those of the Macroon 

 group of Helix {Helicoplianta^ Acarvs, 

 I'anda) are exceedingly large, and the 

 iiunil)er laid must be decidedly less 

 than in tlie smaller Pulmonata. Buli- 

 iiius ohlonr/vs, for instance, from Bar- 

 1 )ados, lays an egg about the size of a 



si)arrow's (Fig. 38), Acliatina sinis- 

 Fio. 38.— Xewly- hatched youiiEf / \ ^ ^ . , ^. 



and egg oi Bubmns obhngus ti'ovsa as large as a pigeons. Ihe 



Miill., Barbados, muural Cingalese Helix Wedtoni when first 

 liatched is about the size of n full- 

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

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

 or popelairanus) which measures exactly l£ inch in length. 



The Zimnaeiclae deposit their eggs in irregular gelatinous 

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

 all kinds of debris. 



The Bachiglossa or marine carnivorous families la}" their 

 eggs in tough leathery or bladdery capsules, which are frequently 

 joined together in shapes which differ with tlie genus. Each 

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

 capsules of Buccinwm unclatum is a familiar oljject on all our 

 sandy coasts. The capsules of rvTjmreL la'pillus are like delicate 

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

 one another, Init are set closely together in groups in sheltered 

 nooks of the rocks. A single PurpuTa has been observed to pro- 

 duce 245 capsules ! 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 

 t(j a string at equal distances from one another. In 3Iurex 

 crinaceus the egg capsules are triangular, with a short stalk. 



