83 



so as to be taken for dead specimens (owing perhaps to 

 their living amongst so much dry sand and their near 

 proximity to the sea), and vast numbers are destroyed 

 by either birds or rats, the empty shells being deposited 

 in large heaps, every specimen having a hole made in 

 it in the centre of the body-whorl, evidently for the ex- 

 press purpose of extracting the animal. The mucous 

 covering is made so strong on these hills that in can be 

 extracted from the animal in a perfect state; it is of 

 the consistency of thin blotting-paper. 



Helix arbustorum (The Shrub Snail). Linnaeus. 

 Figures 54 and 55. 



This pretty and interesting shell, although in its 

 general appearance it more closely resem^bles Helix 

 hortensis than any other British species, may readily be 

 distinguislied from that snail. When in motion it 

 carries the shell more erect and higher than Helix 

 nemoralis, and also crawls at a greater speed. 



The form of ihe shell is somewhat globose, rich 

 brown in colour, closely blotched with pa!e brown, and 



