20 EAMBLES IN SEARCH OF SHELLS. 



in connection with it which may not he so generally 



known. Cowper says : 



" Who seeks liim must be worse than blind, 

 He and his house are so combined, 

 If finding it he fails to find 



Its master." 



And it is about the "master" rather than the "house" 

 that we have now to speak. Of the destructiveness 

 of this mollusc to fruit and vegetable w'e need say 

 nothing, but perhaps it is not generally known to be 

 carnivorous. Not only will it greedily feed upon 

 such fresh meat as it can reach, but it has been 

 known to kill and partially devour a large black slug 

 which had been previously confined in the same 

 vessel with it. 



Per contra, its use in medicine and as an edible 

 delicacy, for those who like it, should be taken into 

 account. For both these advantages w'e are indebted 

 to our French neighbours, who have not only shown 

 us the efficacy of " Helicine " in cases of whooping 

 cough and other pulmonary complaints, but, through 

 that culinary art for which they are renowned, have 

 illustrated the proverb which says that the best 

 appeal to an Englishman's heart is through his 

 stomach. 



