The Common Snail. 37 
and the French at the present day their escaryo- 
towres, or Snailery, for the same purpose; some of 
the Snails so kept attain an immense size, as well 
they may if fed, as by the Romans, on new wine 
and meal. Many poor persons, especially those 
who are consumptive, might no doubt derive much 
cheap sustenance and benefit from using the larger 
species of Helicidcee, which might be collected from 
hedges and gardens as food. Why should they 
not eat those as well as the marine mollusks, such 
as Oysters, Cockles, Whelks, etc. ? 
Snails have an extraordinary power of re-pro- 
ducing any part which may be injured or cut off, 
even to the extent of the whole head, as has been 
observed to be the case; the reparation of injury 
done to the shell they can effect easily, as can all 
testaceous mollusks. Respecting the construction 
of the shell, it may be observed that it is produced 
in the thickness of the mantle, or cloak-like covering, 
which envelops the body of the animal; the forma- 
tion commences at the small end or spire, and 
gradually goes on, whorl upon whorl, as the still 
widening circles which gives the ridgy appearance 
to most univalves are called. Columella, or pillar, 
is the name given to the spire on which the cones 
are rolled; this is sometimes solid and sometimes 
