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MRS. J. LONGSTAFF ON THE HABITS 



Resemblances and Differences. 



In extreme youth the shells of the two varieties greatly 

 resemble one another, but the brown markings, so far as I have 

 observed, appear to commence earlier in var. fulgurata than in 

 var. obesa. The embryos of the latter form, found inside a dead 

 specimen, do not show them at all, and I have only noticed the 

 faintest trace of them in one embryo. As the molluscs grow 

 older, however, they differ in character and colour of the shell, 

 as well as in the colour of the animal. The specimens of var. 

 obesa examined vary somewhat in the spiral angle of the shell, 

 but on the whole it is wider than that of var. fulgurata. The 

 shell of var. obesa is lighter in colour, being white or yellowish 

 white, while that of var. fulgurata is deep horn-colour ; both are 

 ornamented by brown, longitudinal, more or less zigzag streaks, 

 which are less closely packed on var. fulgurata, and are also 

 broader on the body-whorl. The appearance of the latter is like 

 horn or tortoise-shell, while var. obesa is more porcellanous, and 

 is thus similar to the typical C. zebra. 



The colouring of the animal of var. fulgurata is pale greenish 

 or yellowish grey, reticulated with a darker shade, and there are 

 three almost black stripes running down the head, with a banana- 

 yellow stripe on each side of the central one. In var. obesa the 

 animal is lead-grey reticulated with a darker shade ; it also has 

 three dark stripes, which are not so nearly black as those of var. 

 fulgurata, the central stripe is broader, and those on each side 

 are light grey. The fringe and sole are darkest in var. obesa. 



The eggs of var. obesa are proportionately longer than those of 

 var. fulgurata, but on the whole they are smaller. 



The habits of the two varieties also differ somewhat. Yar. 

 fulgurata is more nocturnal, moving about and eating most at 

 night, while var. obesa moves about during the day as much as at 

 night, and lives more continuously near the surface. The former 

 is more vigorous in its movements, making rapid and deep 

 excavations. It has also, been noted that the progeny of the 

 original var. fulgurata generally hibernated earlier, seeming to 

 require a longer period of rest. Contrary to its usual custom, 

 the solitary example of this variety lived on the surface during 

 the last summer of its existence, and did not appear to have the 

 energy to move much or to burrow. 



Food. 



The favourite food of both forms is lettuce, and next to that 

 dandelion and the leaves of the Life Plant {Bryophyllum calycinum 

 Salisb.). They ate the skins of grapes that had been sucked, but 

 could not manage the entire fruit; also banana and the outer 

 leaves of cauliflower, when there was nothing else. They posi- 

 tively disliked cabbage and sprouts, either fresh or cooked. 

 All had a habit of dragging leaves into their burrows, and some- 



