74 



It has long been esteemed as a dainty food by some, 

 and for culinary purposes vast numbers are exported in 

 barrels to America. This long journey it is found to 

 endure exceedingly well. It is also considered as a 

 cure for pulmonary diseases, great numbers being con- 

 veyed tJ the London markets for those persons who are 

 troubled with chest complaints. Thus it has attained a 

 degree of popularity which has spread it all over the 

 world. The introduction of this shell into the United 

 States has been attended with success, and it is now 

 becoming common in that country. 



Helix aspersa attains the largest size in Algiers. 

 It was first described by Dr. Lister, in the year 1678. 

 An inhabitant of gardens, and especially abundant 

 on walls surrounded by nettles, elder, and weeds. 



On opening a dry drain in Bceston, near where this 

 snail is exceedingly abundant, I was surprised to find 

 at one spot no less than a hundred empty shells lying 

 together within the space of a few inches. At first this 

 great slaughter was attributed to toads, but on further 

 search a large ant's nest was discovered beneath the 

 stone immediately above the drain, in which were a 

 few more empty shells. This, together with the fero- 

 cious manner in which they attacked them when placed 

 in their nest, con»inced me that their death resulted 

 from bavins: intruded within the ant's abode, for which 

 liberty they paid the penalty of their lives. 



The Helix aspersa is very destructive to plants, yet 

 seems to prefer the varieties of Primula vulgaris, net- 

 tles, elder, and wild celery. 



A specimen which had its shell accidentally broken, 

 was, after a few days, noticed to be crawling about 

 without one, and for many days was observed alive, 

 vet devoid of a shell. 



