XXXIV HABITS AND STATIONS. 



HABITS AND STATIONS OP ACHATINELLID^E. 



Achatinellas are nocturnal as a rule. By day they sit 

 dormant, usually attached by dried mucus, except in quite 

 wet places. They are not firmly attached, like Oxystyla in 

 dry weather, but securely enough to resist any but very violent 

 shaking. Forms which frequent the trunk and limbs of trees 

 often gather in crotches, in knotholes, or hide under loose 

 edges of bark. Others stick on the leaves, particularly in 

 the concave of a curled leaf. Often two or three roost in 

 company; and when one is found alone, there is usually a 

 companion not far away. Sometimes many gather in a com- 

 modious knothole. 



Pubescent plants are avoided. Otherwise there seems to be 

 little selection, any species living on a considerable number 

 of plants. Dr. Cooke whose observations are recorded under 

 A. bellula multizonata, was unable to trace any connection 

 between color of snail and species of tree, and other observers 

 have reached the same conclusion. Various introduced plants, 

 particularly guava and lantana, are frequented by the snails. 



In the axils of ieie one finds Achatinella in company with 

 Philonesia, Succinea and Auriculella. It is a favorite station 

 for A. abbreviata and A. lila, but is also frequented by many 

 other species. This plant reminds one of the tropical Ameri- 

 can bromeliads, as in the humid zone water collects in the axils 

 of the terminal bunches, deluging one as they are bent down. 



The native bananas are good shell plants, both for Acha- 

 tinella and Laminella. They grow in small clumps in humid 

 ravines. 



The kukui or candle-nut tree (Aleurites moluccana), so 

 often mentioned by Mr. Gulick, occupies a broad zone on the 

 lower mountain slopes. It is conspicuous from a distance by 

 the very light green foliage. The tree is commonly rather 

 rounded, with widely spreading, open limbs, branching much 

 like our Floridan gumbolimbo. 



While Achatinella ascends thirty feet or more, most collect- 

 ing is from quite small trees and shrubs. The snails are hard 

 to see on such copiously leaved shrubs as mokihana and the 



