IS 



det;ris. The}' {rccter the shade of the forest, whci'c thc}' may be 

 found in the situations mentioned. Here the}' pass the major 

 part of their lives in what seems a dull, lazy existence. They 

 generally sally forth in the night in quest of food. On cloudy 

 days they sometimes come out, but seem to avoid the light and 

 glare of the sunshine. I am speaking of their habits generally. 

 In earl}^ spring, however, the snails emerge from their retreats 

 to enjoy the re-invigorating effects of the sun, and arc then 

 found for a short time Avhere its rays will fall upon them. We 

 <ind here a touch of human nature, the same that actuated us 

 wlicn in our boyhood we sought the south side of a cellar door 

 for the same purpose. Having regained their accustomed vigor, 

 the moUusks retire to the first convenient shelter. I have said 

 that the snails live alone, J/elix alternata, Saj^, is an exception. 

 This species is gregarious, numbers of them living together, 

 and in winter we find them collected closel}- as if for the pur- 

 pose of imparting warmth. I have taken as many as two 

 hundred from beneath a single log. The snails lav their e"-o-s 

 from May to October. These the}- deposit under logs and 

 leaves to the number of thirty or more. The .young arc soon 

 hatched if the conditions are favorable. Making their first 

 meal on the shell they have just left, they p 'oceed to shift for 

 themselves. Their growth i.s rapid. At first the shell consists 

 of one and one half whirls, which increase iu number during 

 the first and second seasons. As to the average life of the 

 snails I am uncertain. My friend, Dr. Lewis, thinks it is 

 about one year, I think some of our species live at least two 

 years. I would direct observation to this point. As to size, 

 that depend.s upon the conditions of food, climate, etc. Our 

 species are as large as any found elsewhere. The snails are 

 vegetable feeders, but not strictly so. Several species 

 are carnivorous. One of these I have noticed. The slow- 

 ness of their movements, however, preclude the idea of their 

 being entirely animal feeders. Tliey are provided with a rasp- 

 like tongue which enables them to reduce vegetable substances 

 with great facility. As to colors, our American snails are very 

 plain. There are only a few banded species cast of tlie Rocky 

 Mountain.^, On the Pacific side, there arc a number. In this 



