Land-snails 359 



distinct to have received varietal names. It is veiy 

 probable tliat H. insana, ericeforiini, and ccqyerata 

 have been evolved from this species. In the typical 

 form the shell is conical, somewhat globose, and fairly 

 solid, though not quite opaque. The ground colour 

 is white or of a creamy tint. A brown band of vary- 

 ing breadth and tint runs spirally just above the 

 periphery, and below this there may be five or more 

 thinner and less distinct bands which are more or less 

 broken and blurred. The tip of the raised spire is 

 usually brown and shiny. The very regular curves 

 of the mouth describe three-quarters of a circle, and 

 a little way within a rib is formed in adult shells. 

 In many cases the rib is coloured brown, but often 

 it is white. The umbilicus is of moderate width, and 

 deep. Among the varieties is one totally devoid of 

 colour in which the spiral lines are still very evident 

 owing to their being less opaque than the rest of the 

 shell. The Banded Snail is widely distributed in 

 England, Ireland, and Wales, but in Scotland appears 

 to be found only in A^n-shire. It is most abundant 

 along the south coast, especially in Cornwall, on 

 Dartmoor, and along the South Downs. To get an 

 accurate idea of its profusion in these parts it is 

 advisable to walk out on the pastures after heavy 

 summer rain ; then one can excuse the local idea that 

 these snails come not from among the herbage but 

 from the heavens, as though they were hailstones. 

 Fences, gates, stones, tliistles, and grass stems are so 

 thickly coated with them that one marvels how it is 

 possible for them to find cover or food at other times. 

 These mollusks have lonof been res^arded as the source 

 of the flavour peculiar to Down mutton, but I think 



