Qe THE CHICAGO ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
themselves with this secretion much as a caterpillar does with 
acocoon. Many times several epiphragms will be found in a 
single snail. Most land mollusks live but two or three years, 
although some exotic forms, like the desert snails of Africa, live 
for a much longer time. 
6. CoLLectinc Outrir.—Among the most useful collecting 
tools needed may be mentioned a pair of small spring forceps; 
the points should be slender and meet together perfectly. They 
are indispensable in picking up minute Pupze and Vitre, as well 
as for sorting over the collection after the day’s work. The com- 
mon homeopathic vial is also an invaluable adjunct to store 
small forms as collected. The cork, however, should be at- 
tached to the neck of the vial by a thread, so that it will not be 
lost in the underbrush. A couple of wide mouthed two ounce 
bottles serve well for large species. A tin box, like a mustard 
box, which fits the pocket well, is often found very useful to 
carry snails the size of Polygyra thyroides; care should be used in 
putting the snails in the box or they will get broken. A piece 
of cotton in the bottom of the can will prevent this. When the 
small species like Pupa and Vitrea are desired simply for their 
shells, it will be a good plan to fill the homceopathic vials half 
full of thirty per cent. alcohol. This will abstract the moisture 
and keep away any offensive smell which might arise from 
them. This also prevents them from adhering to the sides of 
the bottle and to themselves, when it is a difficult matter to 
remove them without breaking. In collecting species inhabit- 
ing bushes, an insect net will be found of great value in which 
to catch them as the bushes are shaken. The writer has used 
an open umbrella, inverted, for the same purpose. A small 
trowel and a large knife are always of great use in digging 
about rotten logs and tearing the bark from decaying trees. A 
pocket lens of about ten diameters is an invaluable addition to a 
collector’s outfit, and a large reading glass is very useful in aid- 
ing in the preliminary sorting of the day’s catch. A stout 
wooden rake with a long handle will be found of great value in 
raking hillsides and under bushes. 
c. FavoraBLe Loca.ities.—Pulmonate mollusks may be 
looked for in the following localities: The under surface of old, 
weather-worn pieces of board, bones or leather; the earth about 
rotting stumps and under stones and fallen logs; moist moss 
under rocks; under overhanging ledges; in marshes and the 
margins of brooks and ponds. If the débris left by freshets 
