SNAILS. 93 
ancient Romans kept these animals in what were 
called cochlearia, or snail-stews. These were gene- 
rally formed under rocks or eminences, the bottoms 
of which were watered by lakes or rivers; and, if 
a natural dew or moisture was not found, an artifi- 
cial one was formed by bringing into the place a 
pipe, bored full of holes like a watering-pot, 
through which it was continually sprinkled. The 
snails required little attendance or food, supplying 
themselves, in a great measure, as tuey crawled 
about the sides or floor of their habitation. To 
fatten them, however, they were fed with bran and 
sodden lees of wine. 
“‘These snails are at this day much admired in 
some parts of the Continent, and are not always 
used from economical motives ; for at Vienna, but 
a few years ago, seven of them were charged the 
same price in the inns as a plate of veal or beef. 
The usual modes of preparing them for the table 
are by boiling, frying them in butter, or sometimes 
stuffing them with force-meat ; but, in what manner 
soever they are dressed, their sliminess always 
remains. 
“The greatest numbers, and the finest snails, 
are brought from Suabia. 
“ Dr. Townson was shown at Erlau a snailery, 
which the proprietor informed him was constructed 
on an improved plan. In our island, he says, this 
might have had the denomination of a patent 
snailery, or philosophical snail-sty. It consisted 
only of a large hole, two or three feet deep, dug in 
the ground, having a wooden house as a cover. 
The animals were fed on the refuse of the garden, 
which was thrown to them.” * 
* Bingley’s Anim. Biography, iv. 335. 
