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Status: Needs Review

to errors regarding the habitat of species, when no
diagnosis is given. For instance, Lapham enumerates
Helicina orbiculata (instead of occulta) as an inhabitant
of his state, when it is really a Southern species, found no
farther North than Tennessee. Dr Lewis, also, cites Helix
lucubrata for inornata. The former is a Mexican species.

The plates of my father's work are now in the
hands of the binder - when they are out, I shall
request Dr Gould to send you a copy (at what address?)
of the 3 volumes. This will assist you beyond all I
can do, as there are figures of all the species, known
in fathers time. In many of the remarks on species
I do not agree with him, as more light has been thrown
on the subject by 12 years more of investigation. In my
proposed work I shall endeavor to correct the errors.

In the proper places you will many remarks
on the habits, food, hiding places &c. of the snails. I can
hardly add any hints to assist collecting which you
will not find there - or on studying their habits, food,
&c. when in captivity. I have many species breeding in
my room, in boxes, feed on lettuce &c. and constantly
moistened by wetting the earth daily. Place chalk in
the boxes, or they eat each others' shells. Remove the eggs,
which the old old ones devour.

Spring is the best time for collecting - as soon as the
buds are expanding. Our species are subterranean - Look round
the roots of plants, under last year's dried grass, and even
two or three inches under the surface in loose rich
soils of woods. Woods are the best places, excepting pines of

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The Grove National Historic Landmark

12/6/2023 Initial review complete. CE
Action: Took out "the" between "in the boxes" in line 23 as it was not in original letter.