GEOIyOGY OF I.A COUNTY. 



95 



They g-enerally sally forth in the nig-ht in quest of 

 food. On cloudy days they sometimes come out, but 

 avoid the lig-ht and g-lare of the sunshine. In early 

 spring-, however, they emerg-e from their retreats to 

 enjoy the invig-orating- effects of the sun, and are then 

 found for a short time where its rays will fall upon 

 them. Having- reg-ained their accustomed vigor, they 

 retire to the first convenient shelter. I have said that 

 the snails live alone. Helix alternately Say, is an 

 exception. It is g-reg-arious, numbers of them living- 

 tog-ether, and in winter we find them collected closely 

 as if for the purpose of imparting- w^armth. I have 

 taken as many as two hundred from beneath a sing-le 

 log-. The snails lay their eg'gfs from May to October, 

 depositing- them under log's and leaves to the number of 

 thirty or more. The young- are soon hatched if the 

 conditions are favorable, make their first meal on the 

 shell they have just left, and proceed to shift for them- 

 selves. Their g-rowth is rapid. At first the shell con- 

 sists of one and one-half whirls, which increase in 

 number during- the first and second seasons. As to 

 the averag-e life of the snails I am uncertain. I think 

 some of our species live at least two years. I would 

 direct observation to this point. As to size, that 

 depends upon the conditions of food, climate, etc. Our 

 species are as larg-e as any found elsewhere. The 

 snails are veg-etable feeders, but not strictly so. Sev- 

 eral species are carnivorous. One of these I have 

 noticed. The slowness of their movements precludes 

 the idea of their being- entirely animal feeders. They 

 are provided with a rasp-like tong'ue which enables 

 them to reduce veg-etable substances with g-reat facility. 

 Our American snails are ver}^ plain. There are only a 

 few banded species east of the Rocky Mountains. On 

 the Pacific side there are a number. In this country 



