The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-27

passing restaurant one evening observed
q live snail in a glass in the window. He
Went IN and asked the proprietor of the
restaurant II he would sell 1.-THE proprie-
tor answered in the atfirmat tive and stated
Ms price OF % cents. The scientist gladly
placed the necessary half dollar on the
counter and went off with his prize
he Immediately made study of the an
i imal ana found that It belonged to a Mex
iean edible variety, Helix (pomatia) buff
Ionlana- 1t was very large, measuring
nearly three inches when stretched to full
length.
When making his daily visit to the
snailery' one morning he discovered doz-
ems OF uny, yellow shells moving about
the box very actively. Upon counting
in all of this odd Mexican variety They
were not so large as a small pea, and some
were even then just making their appear
ance above the ground where the parent
minute eggs.
1t was then the owners speciaI care to
watch the growth of these little creatures,
He found that they developed faster than
any other species In his collection and
none have yet reached maturity Tie
original snail lived for many months af-
terWard, and may then have been several
years of age.
There is one other interesting species,
Bullimulur Pallidior. from Lower Califor-
ma, presented to the owner by the acad-
envy OF sciences. This Is one of tile pref
tlest and most distinctive varie ties repre-
sented in the "snailery." The shell is a
pure white SPIRAL pointed, an inch long
and greater in length than in breadth. 1t
resembles very closely a sea shell. The
animal is inactive and has been in the
snailery'' only few months.
The most common of the San Francisco
species is the Lysinoe Nickliniana variety
reticulata. II is about as large as q me-
dlum-sized button, and may be found on
doorsteps or garden walls. 1t does not in
habit gardens.
The largest of the native San Francisco
snails Helix Qysinoe) Aurora, is found
only in the southern portion, near the
county line. 1t is banded with a dark
chestnut ring and is lined with lavender.
The lip Of this snail is as white the
purest china and the size of the animal
compares with that of a walnut, although
full-grown ones may be much smaller. 1t
is found under and around lupin bushes.
The Pupa California;, found on Lone
mountain, also infests lupin bushes prin-
c,pally. But this little crea ture is as small
as pinhead, and is therefore not easily
seen. 1t was found and named by DR..
Another rare shell. of which there are
only two living, has a hairy epidermis.
1t is dark colored, large and fiat, and is
catalogued at SO cents. 1t may be found
in Marin county.
The snails of the Helix Armigera varie-
ty attract some attention, perhaps be-
cause we are told that they sometimes
have little white tooth in the aperture
ana am, perhaps because they are rarity in
the spailery." The scientist has not dis
covered why they do not seem to thrive
We'll They are found in very moist places
usually along the banks of streams and
are very modest creatures, withdrawing
into their shell at the slightest touch. and
not Issuing from 1t again for long time
Freaks in nature appear among snails
as they do in any other form of natural
life, and we have albino forms of the
reticulata. These are pale lemon color
with no band, and are found about one
in every 1000 specimens. You may see
only about half a dozen albinos in the
snailery at present, and many hundreds
OF reticulata have been raised to produce
this small number of "freaksr'
The scientist will show you the shells of
nus cannlbals also, but he has none
living now. The Selenites VancouVeren-
SIS Is a leaden-colored shell with a whit
Of the stream leading out of Mountain
Lake, in the vicinity of the Children s
hospital. If you place the animal on your
hand you will feel its bite, which is like
the prick of a pin.
There are only two other cannibal va
rieties found in San Francisco, and It is
a question with conchologists which is a
form of the other. Zonites Cellarius was
introduced from the east, and may be
native of France, and is found on leaves,
not in gardens. Both feed upon every
thing, and among themselves it is mat
ter ter, Of survival of the fittest," for they
Will devour one another.
Ihe demand for snails in the markets is
slowly increasing, and 1t would not be an
unwlse plan for some one to raise edible
snalls for the purpose Of supplying the
merchants.
In the Chinese markets you may buy at
almost any time live snails which have
been imported from the rice fields of Chi
ma. These sell for 10 cents apiece or 10
cents dozen, according to the quantity
on hand and arrival of steamers. But the
Italians use principally the French can
ned snails which are worth so cents a can
twenty shells served with each can
Snail-raising is, however, accompanied
with some risk; not so much to the grow
er as to the growers neighbors, If he have
any. A case in point occurred in Oakland
About a year ago a Frenchman who had
a small yard in the rear of the cottage
WHICH he tenanted turned the yard into a
Snailery for the culture of edible snails
for his own use and for the market The
stock thrived and multiplied so RAPIDLY
that the small domain provided for them
was soon too limited for their support and
comfort, and they climbed the fences and
Invaded the cultivated grounds and con-
servatories of neighboring residents, de-
vouring every tender leaf which came in
their way and leaving desolation in their
wake. The French snail-grower has gone
out of the business, but the pest he unwit-
tingly introduced in the commendable de-
sire to supply his table with dainty and
his purse with coin has spread over sew
eral blocks of neighboring territory. and
axt