75 



This species is gregarious in its habits. On a wall 

 overgrown with the pretl)' fern Celerax officinalis, in 

 the neighbourhood of Bathford, in Somersetshire, vast 

 numbers were observed congregated under the leaves, 

 in a similar manner they are found in the Nottingham 

 Castle yard. 



The specimens received from the Isle of Wight ap- 

 pear to have less of the dark markings than those 

 found in this neighbourhood. Mr. W. K. Bridgmaii 

 has forwarded a specimen said to be not uncommon in 

 the vicinity of Norwich; it is of a uniform dull cream - 

 colour. A similar variety was in the collection of the 

 late Mr. Kenyon, of Preston, said to have been pro- 

 cured in Suffolk. 



The eggs of Helix aspersa are deposited in holts 

 dug at the roots of grass and at the foot of trees. Ac- 

 cording to M. Bouchard Chatereaux, from 100 to Il'O 

 eggs are laid at one time. These are deposited from 

 the month of May till that of October; they are from 

 fifteen to thirty days in hatching, and are thirteen 

 months before fully grown. The common period of 

 copulation is the latter end of May and the beginning 

 of June, after which each individual deposits eggs, for 

 the same animal possesses both the male and female 

 organs. 



This mollusc climbs trees and walls, and may be 

 found resting upon them during the daytime many 

 feet from the ground, and more especially on the apple 

 and scented poplar. 



As an instance of the length of time which this snail 

 can live without food, it may be mentioned that a spe - 

 cimen remained stationary for many weeks under 

 the eaves of my house. It ascended on the 2nd of 

 August, and hadj commenced a descent before the 

 thunder storm of September 6th. It was washed do n 



