A CUEIOUS SHELL-DOOR. 71 



Wood Horsetail were piercing tlie turf; and between 

 tlie oval plaited leaves of tlie Tway-blade, wliicli was 

 very abundant, the tall flowerstalk was shooting. 

 The Beeches were just clothing their twigs with tender 

 yellow leaves, and their beautiful gi-ey smooth trunks 

 were profusely embraced by the clinging Ivy. Every- 

 thing wore a delightful freshness : — 



" The sweet buds 



Had not yet lost their starry diadems 

 Caught from the early sobbing of the morn." 



Keats. 



In the rough bark of an old willow I found half 

 an hour's amusement, in obtaining a pocket-box-ftill 

 of a very elegant but not uncommon shell, Clausilia 

 nigricans. It is remarkable for having a sort of 

 spring-door to its shells, composed of a shelly plate 

 affixed to a highly elastic calcareous thread, which, 

 while it allows the door to be pushed aside by the 

 animal when it protrudes, closes tightly of its own 

 accord the instant it withdraws. Dr. J. E. Gray calls 

 this "one of the most wonderful contrivances employed 

 by Nature for the protection of the Mollusca." * 



Birds were busy in the little gi'ove, all intent on 

 their own concerns, careless of our intrusion. Two 

 Mag[3ies were loudly brawling in a tree over our heads ; 

 Blackbirds all around were pouring forth their mel- 

 low notes ; one was sitting on the top of a tall post, 

 flirting and opening his tail as he uttered his clear 

 whistle, and in the very height of enjoyment : at 

 my approach away he flies, finishing the strain as he 



* Brit, Land Shells, p. 21 L 



