BAKER: FIELDBOOK OF ILLINOIS LAND SNAILS 15 



that very few animals of any sort are beneath recently fallen 

 trees. Years are required for the ground underneath a fallen 

 log to become fully suited as a dwelling place for snails, sala- 

 manders, spiders and the host of other animals which live be- 

 tween logs and the soil. When a decaying log is rolled from its 

 established location, the conditions favorable for sheltering 

 these animals are completely destroyed. For this reason, the 

 snail collector who moves a log should, in the spirit of conserva- 

 tion, carefully roll it back into its place, securing as nearly as 

 possible a perfect fit to the old spot where it lay. 



Preserving Specimens 



Preservation of the specimens gathered from a collecting 

 trip is of the first importance. At the time the live specimens 

 are collected, they may be covered with dirt and slime. These 

 substances must be washed off in clear water. The "dead" shells 

 may be washed clear of dirt in running water, the inside of each 

 shell cleaned out at the aperture with wire or tweezers. They 

 may then be dried by being laid on blotting paper or newspaper. 



The living specimens may be dropped into boiling water, 

 which will kill the animals and render easv the removal of the 

 soft parts from the shells. For this latter purpose a bent wire 

 sharpened at one end, or a fishhook fastened in a wooden handle, 

 makes a good implement. If a wire or fishhook is inserted in 

 the dead snail and the shell turned, the animal may be easily 

 removed. The shell should be washed clean of mucus and then 

 allowed to dry naturally. No artificial heat should be applied, 

 as this will crack the shell. 



The animal that is to be preserved by the collector may be 

 killed by drowning. A small bottle should be filled to the very 

 top with cold water from which dissolved air has been removed 

 by boiling. The snail should then be dropped into the water and 

 a small piece of glass placed over the mouth of the bottle. This 

 will exclude all air. In about 12 hours the snail will have died 

 with its body, tentacles and eye peduncles extended. It may be 

 preserved in a 4 per cent solution of formalin; or it may be 

 placed in a 50 per cent solution of alcohol for a few days and then 

 transferred to a 75 per cent solution of alcohol. 



Small specimens which have been collected in the home- 

 opathic vials partly filled with alcohol may be taken out and 

 dried on blotting paper. 



