THE CHEESE SNAIL. 81 



We have heard of its being taken about chalk j^its at 

 Lewisham and Charlton, and even on Hampstead 

 Heath. It is common on the South Downs, near 

 Lewes, and about Beachy Head, where it is found on 

 the short herbage clothing the chalk-downs. 



Beech woods are very favourable to many of the 

 species just named, and, for some reason or other, 

 shells procured in such situations are generally larger 

 and better coloured than those found in more exposed 

 haunts. Doubtless, shade and moisture are indis- 

 pensable to the growth and healthy condition of the 

 animals inhabiting them. 



The cheese snail (Helix obvoluta), so called from 

 the cheese-like shape of the shell (PL IX., fig. 8), 

 is so local a species that it is supposed to have been 

 accidentally introduced at no very distant date. As 

 an inhabitant of Ditcham Wood, near Buriton, it 

 was first discovered by Dr. Lindsay, at one time a 

 resident in the neighbourhood. It has since been 

 found at Ashford Wood and Stonor Hill (Eev. W. 

 H. Hawker), Uppark, near Petersfield (Mr. J. 

 Weaver), Kingley Vale, near Chichester (Mr. W. 

 Jeffery, Jun.), and Crabbe Wood, near Winchester, 

 (Mr. W. A. Forbes), amongst moss at the roots of 



G 



