36 Our British Snails 



unlike nearly all our earth molluscs, can be 

 found abroad in winter. 



Vitrea (Poltta) liicida. — This is the largest 

 of our British Hyaliniae, which are difficult to 

 distinguish. The body of this species is cobalt 

 blue, the apex of the shell is fiat, its colour 

 opaque, and the last whorl more expanded than 

 in others. All belong to the sub-genus Polita, and 

 have polished or glossy shells. All love shade 

 and moisture, and should be sought under stones 

 or wood or in moss. They only come out by day 

 when it is wet, a habit they may have acquired 

 from their being a favourite food of birds, 416 

 having been found in the crop of one nestling 

 Stockdove ; while various ffies are very de- 

 structive to them. This species prefers animal 

 food, and is more gregarious than others. Not 

 common. 



Vitrea (Polita) cellaria. — The next largest species 

 is the most common of all. It is fond of cellars 

 (whence its name), and I found it under the stone 

 lid of a manhole in the drain of S. Peter's 

 Rectory, Walworth — the only shell left in that 

 part of London. It resembles the previous 

 species, but is smaller and has a broader and deeper 

 suture between the whorls, while the foot-sole 

 is paler than the body. 



Vitrea [Polita] Roger si. — Local. Found in dense 

 woods. It is much like both H. cellaria and 

 H. alliaria, and all three smell of garlic, 



