100 On the Vitality of certain Land Mollusks. [ February, 
ON THE VITALITY OF CERTAIN LAND MOLLUSKS. 
BY ROBERT E. C. STEARNS. 
At a meeting of the California Academy of Sciences I submit- 
ted for the inspection of the members a living specimen of 
Bulimus pallidior Sby., one of nine given to me by Professor 
George Davidson, who collected them at San José del Cabo, 
Lower California, in March, 1873. 
These snails were kept in a box undisturbed until June 23, 
1875, when I took them out and, after examination, placed them 
in a glass jar with some chick-weed and other tender vegetable 
food and a small quantity of tepid water, so as to make a warm 
humid atmosphere. This hospitable treatment induced them to 
“ wake up” and move about after their long fast and sleep of 
two years, two months, and sixteen days. Subsequently all died 
but the one exhibited, which seems to be in pretty good health, 
though not very active. 
It may be remembered that I gave at a meeting of the Acad- 
emy in March, 1867, an instance, even more remarkable, of vital- 
ity in a snail (Helix Veatchii) from Cerros Island, the latter- 
having lived without food from 1859, the year when it was col- 
lected, to March, 1865, a period of six years. 
The famous specimen in the British Museum, which is cited in 
the books, Helix desertorum, had lived within a few days of four 
years, fastened to a tablet in one of the cases, when discovered 
to be alive. Helix desertorum, as the specific name implies, is 
found in arid and sterile areas in the continents of Africa and 
Asia, and has, as will be perceived, a wide distribution. From 
the former continent, I have specimens from Egypt, and it also 
ranges through Arabia in the latter. The Bulimus from the 
mainland of the peninsula of Lower California, and Helix Veatehit 
from Cerros or Cedros Island, off the coast on the ocean side of 
the same, come from within the same physical environment, being 
only a comparatively limited distance apart. The Helix belongs 
to an interesting and peculiar group, probably varieties of one 
species, which includes, at present, the following names: (1) 
Helix areolata Sby., (2) H. Veatchii Newe., (3) H. pandore — 
Fbs., and (4) H. levis Pfr. Other forms geographically ap- 
proximate may hereafter on further investigation be referred to 
the same lineage. Of the above (1) H. areolata was the first 
described, or I should say that this appears by the date to be — 
the first name bestowed upon any member of the group. This 
