NATURAL HISTORY. 



463 



Family, Helicidse. (Gr. "EAt|, twisted.) 

 HELIX. 



Aspcrsa (Lat. sprinkled), the Common Snail. 



Continent. This snail grows to a large size, nearly attaining 

 the magnitude of an ordinary closed fist. 



The eyes of the Snail are placed at the extremity of the ten- 

 tacula, or " horns" as they are usually called. 



The common garden snail is so well known that no descrip- 

 tion of it is needed. It lays eggs very large in comparison with 

 the size of the parent ; they are about the size of small peas, 

 round, soft, and semi-transparent. They are deposited about 

 two inches below the surface of the earth. 



This creature is very tenacious of life. A living snail was 

 exhibited at the Ashmolean Society at Oxford, which had made 

 a long sea voyage, packed up in cotton wool. An immersion 

 in water soon brought the inhabitant to view, and when it was 

 exhibited it was crawling about a box in perfect health. 



THE ROYAL STAIRCASE WEKTLETRAP. 



Tho ROYAL STAIRCASE WENTLETRAP affords us an excellent 

 and most beautiful example of the Turbinidce. It is a native 

 of the Chinese and Indian seas, and was formerly so scarce that 

 a specimen two inches in length would sell for a hundred 



