84 THE ELEMENTS 



Habitation. The Helices are found 

 to inhabit the ocean, land, rivers, lakes, 

 <&c. They are inhabitants of almost 

 all parts of the globe ; and are in 

 general very numerous. On land they 

 are found to inhabit trees, old walls, 

 mossy banks, rocks ; and are often 

 found under stones, <&c. 



The Helices are termed snails in 

 England ; they feed on vegetables, 

 &c. It has been asserted, and on appa- 

 rently good authority, that snails have 

 been known to revive after remaining 

 in a state of torpidity for about fifteen 

 years ; snails are possessed of very 

 considerable reproductive powers, and 

 are capable of regenerating the head, 

 after it is taken off. 



The Helices are a numerous tribe, 

 and many of them are beautifully 

 formed. 



Modern Testaceologists have di- 

 vided this genus into six genera : Jan- 



