90 



THE HAWKEYE ORNITHOLOGIST AND OOLOGIST. 



have a wide-mouthed vial containing alco- 

 hol, so they can be dropped in as soon as 

 collected. A pair of tweezers is indispens- 

 able in collecting small shells. Large shells 

 can be put into an ordinary collecting box. 



Vitrina. This genus resembles Zonites, 

 and requires similar treatment. 



Bulimulus and Glandina are Southern 

 and Mexican genera. Mostly large and 

 handsome species. They inhabit the same 

 station as the Helices, and are treated like 

 them. 



Cylindrella. There are but two species 

 of this genus found in the U. S. Macra- 

 oeramus, of which also two species arc 

 found in this country, is related to this 

 genus. They are elongated, slender, many- 

 whorled shells, and must be treated with 

 the alcohol bath. 



Pupa and Vertigo are small cylindrical 

 genera found everywhere in the U. S. No 

 particular place can be given as their sta 

 tion, but some species are partial to wet 

 meadows; and any chip, piece of bark, or 

 accumulation of trash will richly reward 

 the collector who investigates it. Other 

 species will be found in damp moss. Look 

 closely for these small species, as it is 

 among them that the collector hopes of 

 finding a species new to science may mater- 

 ialize. Treat these species with alcohol. 



The Succineas are all fragile shells, not 

 of a large size; hut having a short spire and 

 large body-whorl and aperture, the animal 

 can be removed from them, making fine 

 specimens. 



The species of this genus are the nearest 

 to being amphibious of any of the Pulmo- 

 nata, and are found on the margins of 

 lakes and streams crawling on the mud. and 

 sometimes on sticks or logs projecting out 

 of the water. They can also be found in 

 wet bottom lands, but plenty of moisture 

 being a necessity to them, there is not much 

 use looking for them elsewhere. A simple 



scalding will loosen the animal so it can be 

 removed and the shell cleaned. Being so 

 fragile they require careful manipulation. 



If the collector wishes to collect the nak- 

 ed Mollusks, Slugs, &c, they will require 

 to be kept permanently in alcohol. While 

 I have not enumerated all the genera of 

 American terrestrials, I have given the 

 most important ones; and all specimens can 

 be prepared by some one of the methods 

 given. The collector will rapidly gain ex- 

 perience in finding the best localities for the 

 different species; and he will hardly find a 

 barren locality. 



The most important family of American 

 fresh-water shells is the well known "river- 

 mussel," or Uninnidm. Of the 1200 known 

 species, more than one-half have been de- 

 scribed from American waters. There is a 

 wonderful diversify of form and other char- 

 acters; and a complete collection of the 

 American species alone would be worth a 

 small fortune. There is scarcely a stream, 

 lake or pond that will not have one or more 

 representatives of this family; and as they 

 are all interesting, ami some very beautiful, 

 they are much sought after, especially by 

 foreign collectors. In collecting this fami- 

 ly the collector can don an old suit and 

 wade after them if the weather is warm 

 and water shallow, or if he is afraid of a 

 wetting he can use a rake with close-set 

 teeth and dredge for them. 



They are prepared for the cabinet by 

 scalding, when the shell will gape open. 

 With a .sharp knife remove the animal; 

 wash the shell thoroughly inside and out- 

 side; close the valves and tie a string about 

 the shell, and it will dry closed. If you 

 want your cabinet specimens to look just as 

 they do when removed from the water, 

 give them an application of glycerine on the 

 outside, but don't drench them in it, a slight 

 application will do. Be particular to label 

 every specimen, giving the stream or lake 

 where taken, county and state. This is nec- 

 essary with all fresh-water shells. In land 

 shells give the county and state on the label. 



[CONCLUDED IN JULY NUMBEK.] 



