1 8 Our British Snails 



and variations of these two shells, how they vie 

 with those of warmer regions. 



Next search trunks of trees, and especially 

 the smooth boles of the beeches. The rough 

 bark of the elm or oak is not congenial to slugs 

 or snails. Where trees are moss-covered at 

 their foot, or walls at their top, many of the smaller 

 shells may be expected ; while handfuls of dead 

 leaves may be shaken over something white, 

 or taken home in a large bag to be treated there. 

 Hurdles leaning against a hedge are often found 

 to bear a good crop of snails. Damp places 

 must be sought in dry weather ; but a rainy 

 day, that troubles some kinds of naturalists, sends 

 the conchologist forth rejoicing, especially if 

 a warm evening follows a wet day. A night 

 search with a lantern will often be profitable. 

 Where they will be undisturbed, traps may be set, 

 such as flat pieces of wood (the older the better), 

 or cardboard, lying on the grass ; while most of 

 those species that belong to the group which 

 seems to prefer the sun, e.g. H. itala, virgata, etc., 

 are fond of a newspaper for food rather than for 

 shelter. 



During the hibernating season, which extends 

 from November to April, we turn rather to ditches 

 than to hedges, and, armed with a perforated 

 scoop at the end of a long stick, we dredge among 

 the water-weeds, or sift, like gold-washers, the 

 sand or mud in ditches, ponds, and backwaters 



