Misc(^Uaneous. 355 



into consideration the observations of M. 0. Hcrtwig, which they 

 regard as erroneous. My supposition seems to me to refer all the 

 phenomena at present ascertained to a single fundamental process, 

 and not to be contradicted by any known fact. — Comptes Rendiis, 

 Feb. 5, 1877, p. 268 



On the Vitality of certain Land Molluslcs. By Robt. E. C. Stearns. 



I submit for the inspection of the Academy a living specimen of 

 Bulhnus paUidior, Sby., one of nine given to me by Prof. George 

 Davidson, who collected them at San Jose del Cabo, Lower California, 

 in March 1S73. 



These snails were kept in a box undisturbed until June 23, 1875, 

 when I took them out, and, after examination, placed them in a 

 glass jar with some chickweed and other tender vegetable food, and 

 a small quantity of tepid water, so as to make a warm humid atmo- 

 sphere. This hospitable treatment induced them to wake up and 

 move about after their long fast and sleep of two years, tiuo months, 

 and sixteen days. Subsequently aU died but this, which seems to 

 be in pretty good health, though not very active. 



It may be remembered that I mentioned before the Academy, at 

 a meeting in March 1867, an instance of vitality, in a snail {Helix 

 Veatchii) from Cerros Island, even more remarkable, the latter 

 having lived without food from 1859, the year when it was collected, 

 to March 1865, a period of six years. 



The famous specimen in the British Museum, which is cited in 

 the books. Helix desertorum, had lived within a few days of four 

 years, fastened to a tablet in one of the cases, when discovered to 

 be alive. 



Helix desertorum, as the specific name implies, is found in arid 

 and sterile areas in the continents of Africa and Asia, and has, as 

 will be perceived, a wide distribution. From the former continent, 

 I have specimens from Egypt ; and it also ranges through Arabia in 

 the latter. 



The Bulimus from the mainland of the peninsiila of Lower Cali- 

 fornia, and Helix Veatchii from Cerros or Cedros Island, off the coast 

 on the ocean side of the same, come from within the same physical 

 environment, being comparatively a limited distance apart. 



The Helix belongs to an interesting and peculiar group, probably 

 varieties of one species, which includes, at present, the following 

 names — (1) Helix areolata, Sby., (2) H. Veatchii, Newc, (3) H. 

 pandorce, Fbs., and (4) H. Icevis, Pfr. Other forms geographically 

 approximate may hereafter, on further investigation, be referred to 

 the same lineage. 



Of the above, (1) H. areolata was the first described ; or I should 

 say that this appears by the date to be the first name bestowed 

 upon any member of the group. This species has been quoted from 

 Oregon, and (4) H. Icevis, from the Columbia river, in both cases 

 erroneously. The figures in ' Land and Freshwater Shells of North 



