HELIX. 49 



(Monstrosities), Fbrus. Hist. Moll. Terr. pi. 29, f. 1, 2, 3.— Hartm. Erd mid 

 Sussw. Gast. pi. 73, f. 1 to 8. — Wood, Index Test. Suppl. 

 pi. 7, f. 6 {H. turgidula). 



Depressed globular, not very thin, subopaque, glossy, 

 with extremely delicate, longitudinal wrinkles, which are 

 chiefly evident at the suture, and minute undulating spiral 

 stria?, rich brown, closely marbled with small linear yel- 

 lowish, or paler opaque spots, which are usually confluent 

 and angular ; and almost always girt with a single darker 

 brown narrow fillet, which winds along the base of the 

 upper volutions, and displays itself rather above the mid- 

 dle of the body-whorl. Spire more or less raised, but 

 variable in amount of elevation. Whorls six in number, 

 convex and well defined, the last one rounded ; axis per- 

 forated, umbilicus almost concealed. Aperture rounded- 

 lunate, broader than high ; peristome Avhite, thickened 

 within, strongly reflected, rather constricted behind, and 

 a little dilated at the umbilicus. 



Fair-sized specimens average, for the most part, three 

 quarters of an inch in diameter, and eight lines in height, 

 but vary considerably in their proportions ; occasionally 

 the ground colour is pale olive, and the specks opaque 

 white. 



The animal is roughly granulated, and of a dusky 

 greenish hue, often very dark, or nearly black, becoming 

 paler and greyish on the margins of the foot. 



It is generally distributed throughout woods, and among 

 damp gardens in all parts of the British Isles. It is 

 remarkable for extending its range to a higher altitude 

 on mountains than any other of our larger Helices. In the 

 Alps it nearly approaches the snow line. The examples 

 taken in such localities are comparatively small and 

 stunted. 



