The living activities of Helix pomal'm are in many ways dependent upon the weather conditions. During the cold months, from about October or November to March or April, the snails hibernate, closing their shells by secretion of the calcareous epiphragma, and receiving their energy from stored reserve substances. During the warm months the intensity of their activity depends largely upon the amount of rain falling in any particular year, the snails feeding and being active only in moist surroundings with the period of reproduction lasting usually from June to August. In a previous investigation (v. Brand, 1031) it was shown that the chemical composition of the body of Helix shows characteristic differences at various times during the annual cycle. It seemed of interest to study some of the blood constituents, in order to test whether similar regular changes occur here.
Material and MethodsThe animals, Helix poinatla, were purchased from a dealer in Fran-423-431.
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