246 IN LOWER FLORIDA WILDS 



AmpuUaria or "apple snail," called "idol snail" 

 by the Indians of South America who hold it in 

 reverence. All the many species of AmpuUaria 

 inhabit the warmer parts of the earth, and usually 

 have large, globular shells. The animal is pro- 

 vided with a gill for use in breathing under water. 

 In addition it has a pair of "siphons," the left one 

 developed into a long tube so when lying on the 

 bottom in shallow water it can extend it to the 

 surface and breathe air. Here is a case in which 

 the breathing operations go on perfectly whether the 

 animal is on duty above or having the watch below. 

 When the river goes dry they burrow deep in the 

 mud and enter a state of asstivation, during which 

 their various organs practically cease to function. 

 It is said that some of the species may be taken 

 from the mud during this sleep and kept for years 

 in the air without injury. 



Where the streams of the southeast coast flow 

 through rocky hammocks they are very attractive. 

 Some of them flow for quite a distance beneath 

 the rock to appear farther down as great springs, 

 and after a short visible course may disappear 

 again. Along their hammock borders there may 

 be sinks and small caverns which are sure to be 



