■U: 



478 BinneyU Monograph of the Helices 



Here, with the head just protruding beyond the lip of the 

 shell, and one tentacula extended as if to catch the slight- 

 est signs of an enemy, the snail renaains perfectly unmov- 

 ed, unless some insect alights upon its shell, when it shows 

 its uneasiness by raising it suddenly in the air, and moving 

 it around in quick and rapid gyrations until the intruder 

 is dislodged. Whether these meetings serve any useful 

 purpose in the economy of the animal, or are caused by 

 the pleasurable sensaticns, and renewed strength, derived 

 from the warmth of the situation after their winter's sleep, 

 I cannot say ; I am inclined to think, however, that they 

 precede the business of procreation. It is certain that they 

 last but a short time, and that after early spring, the snails 

 are only to be found in their usual retreats. 



In the course of the month of June, earlier, or later, 

 as the season is more or less warm, they begin to lay their 

 eggs. These are deposited to the number of from thirty 

 to eighty, in the moist and light mould, sheltered under 

 leaves at the sides of logs and stones, without any order, 

 and slightly agglutinated together. After the number is 

 completed they are abandoned by the animal. 



The eggs are white, opaque, elastic, nearly globular, 

 three sixteenths of an inch In their greatest diameter, and 

 covered with minute points. They consist of an outer, 

 semi-calcareous covering or shell of some consistence, and 

 an inner, transparent, thin, shining membrane, which im- 

 mediately incloses a clear, viscid, glairy fluid, which is 



analogous 



The 



vitellus or yolk seems to be wanting. 



The embryo shell is observable in- the albuminous fluid 

 in a few days after the egg is laid, and when the new ani- 

 mal makes its way out of the egg, which happens at the 



*»nil nf twp.ntv eve tViirtv Hav«! fnr \* U rliffirillt tO determine 



