THE » CONCHOLOGISTS’ : EXCHANGE 
67. 
Young Collectors’ Comer. 
HOW TO COLLECT SMALL LAND 
SHELLS. 
BY V. STERKI, M. D., NEW PHILADELPHIA, O. 
T is well known that many small land shells 
are found under and in decaying wood, 
stumps, logs, and under loose bark, etc., 
and in such localities they may be picked up 
by hand or with the aid of a knife’s point or 
a pair of pincers. Especially during late 
autumn, open weather in winter, and early 
spring, these little species can be found in 
great numbers in their winter quarters, as well 
as the larger varieties. But it may not be gen- 
erally known that almost all of them like 
animal matter for food. The fact that they 
have been found accidentally in considerable 
numbers in skulls, etc., makes it advisable to 
place large pieces of bone with open cavities, 
such as the head of a sheep (which may be 
obtained from any butcher), at suitable locali- | 
ties, well secured by heavy stones, logs, or wire 
against rapacious animals, thus forming traps, 
as it were, to be visited from time to time for 
the small Ayalnas, Pupas, etc., living upon 
and inthem. Pieces of wood covered with 
lard will answer the same purpose. 
In collecting shells never fail to look for 
them under plants with broad or numerous 
Carefully gather moss in patches from rocks 
together with the grass and dead leaves with 
the same, and especially the layer of decaying 
moss under these latter, by hand, or better, 
| with a small rake provided with strong, close- 
ly-set teeth, and place it upon a large piece of 
strong paper, or cloth about the size of a bed 
sheet, the corners of which are provided with 
loops to be fastened to the ground by pegs to 
prevent removal by the wind. If time allows 
let the moss get dry, then shake and rub it 
gently, removing the coarser parts; for this 
purpose a sieve will do excellent service. The 
remaining fine parts, “rubbish” (?) should be 
placed in a collecting bag and carried home to 
be treated in the way indicated for ‘ Drift,” in 
No. 8 of ‘The Conchologists’ Exchange.” 
During journeys, when time is limited, this is 
the best method to adopt. The dust under 
loose bark should be brushed down from both 
sides ; the finer parts about plants should be 
gathered up and the examination continued 
| afterwards at home. 
Shady or moist hillsides, where short grass 
grows mixed with moss, are desirable places, 
and collecting is best done in the described 
manner at any time in the year, if the weather 
is open. Where there are rocks, sweep them 
with a strong brush in a suitable receptacle, 
such as a pasteboard box (I have used an old 
umbrella for the purpose); do the same with 
| trees, upon which you may find the smallest 
| species clinging, taking care to examine the 
| bases of rocks as well. 
leaves spread on the ground and about the | 
roots. 
of Iris, standing on a dry gravelly bank, I 
collected in a half hour’s time, more than 200 
Pupa armifera, Say, besides some Pupa 
A few weeks since upon a single stalk | 
contracta, Say, Pupa pentodon, Say, Pupa | 
| ing the mollosks devouring it.* 
curvidens, Gld. (a peculiar, slender form), 
Pupa fallax, Say, and Hyalina minuscula, 
Binney, a part of them, of course, being 
weathered and poor. 
One of the best ways and perhaps the most 
expedient, isthe following, used by me for 
years in both Europe and America: 
Care must be taken to 
add to the gathered moss 77% each instance. a 
label of strong paper or parchment indicating 
the locality of collecting and its natural fea- 
tures, kind of soil, grade of moisture or dry- 
ness, state of vegetation, and the date of col- 
lecting. When collecting in mountainous 
region, the height above sea level should be 
mentioned. The labels should be previously 
impregnated with salt or anything else prevent- 
Many small species, living in moist places 
have to be looked for along the banks and at 
*We would suggest a square, tin label, with clipped 
corners, upon which the inscription may be written with 
a penknife,—Ep. 
