POLYGYRA ALBOLABRIS AND LIMAX MAXIMUS 293 



cyst has been almost entirely absorbed, and the various organs 

 are approaching their perfect condition. Figure 1, plate 27^ 

 represents the appearance of the embryo in the egg capsule at this 

 stage (8). The absorption of the podocyst continues for a short 

 time longer, when the animal becomes completely formed and 

 emerges from the egg. 



A careful study of the figures on plates 24-28, and their explana- 

 tions, will perhaps show more clearly the development of the 

 embryo than the preceding text. 



It occasionally happens that there are two ova in one egg cap- 

 sule, and in one instance I have observed four embryos in one 

 egg capsule (pi. 27, fig. 4, 5). 



Time of laying eggs 



In the latter part of September I had a number of specimens 

 sent to me. Within a very few days a majority of them laid 

 eggs. Of course the very short time of confinement, only two or 

 three days,, made no difference in the time of laying. Others did 

 not lay their eggs till the middle of November, when naturally 

 they would have been hibernating for a month. It would seem 

 therefore that some of the animals lay their eggs in the fall, and 

 others not till the following spring. 



The eggs are laid on the surface of the ground, under dead 

 leaves, logs, stones> or any sheltered space, where the requisite 

 moisture can be obtained. They are laid in a cluster. The num- 

 ber in the clusters observed by myself varied from 50 to 130. They 

 are soft and before leaving the animal must be very much com- 

 pressed; for a mass of eggs occupies a larger space than the ani- 

 mal itself. When first laid they are of beautiful appearance, 

 semi-transparent, resembling globes of liquid. Light transmitted 

 through them becomes a beautiful golden color. They are 

 usually round, but sometimes oval, and when they are in apposi- 

 tion a part is frequently pressed in till it is concave, but, as the 

 embryo grows, this part is pushed out, the egg becoming regularly 

 round or oval. 



It would seem probable that all eggs hi id i\\ llu' same time 



