l66 THE DISPERSAL OF SHELLS. 



observer, it appears, while walking along by the road- 

 side, saw a large orange-tailed humble-bee, " vigorously 

 towing something heavy after him," which, on inspection, 

 proved to be " a Clausilia [Cyclostoma ?] the little snail 

 which has an operculum-like plate on the lip;" the 

 latter had fast hold of one of the hind legs of the bee, 

 by which, no doubt, it had been accidentally trodden 

 upon. The smaller operculate-shells, it can hardly be 

 doubted, may possibly be carried in this manner to 

 considerable distances by the large and powerful 

 insects which abound in some parts of the world. 



