66 Our British Snails 



or floating on the sea, or on a sandy beach. 

 Bivalves may be found by digging in the sand, 

 or mud, on a beach, or at the mouth of a river : 

 their presence is generally indicated by a circular 

 breathing hole in the sand. 2nd. By dredging, 

 by which means only deep-sea shells can be ob- 

 tained ; but after a storm these may often be 

 found upon the shore, before they have lost their 

 lustre. 



Limpets, etc., should be detached with a thin 

 blade passed quickly under the shell, taking care 

 not to break the edges. Small shells on and in 

 seaweed, and limpets, etc., adhering to stones 

 will drop off and sink to the bottom in a vessel 

 of cold fresh water. 



2. Fresh-water Shells may be obtained in 

 any river, lake, pond, marsh or reservoir. Uni- 

 valves, chiefly on the banks, on reeds and plants 

 growing near the hedges, and on the under surface, 

 leaves, and stems of aquatic plants. Bivalves 

 generally at the bottom, among stones, or buried in 

 the sand, or among the roots of aquatic plants. 



3. Land Shells. — -These resemble, more or 

 less, in their habits the garden snail, though 

 varying greatly in character, size, and colour. 

 The}^ mostl}^ abound in a chalk or limestone 

 district, and in moist and wooded situations. 

 Some species inhabit low and damp spots, roots 

 of trees, hollows and crevices of rocks and walls ; 



