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144 ZONITOIDES NITIDUS. 
Food and Habits.—Zonitoides nitidus is a somewhat gregarious 
species, not very active in habit, and bearing its shell at an angle varying 
between 40° and 70° from the horizontal line ; it inhabits moist places, 
amongst moss, roots of grass, and other herbage, especially at the margins 
of canals, muddy streams, ditches, rivers, and marshy places generally, 
frequently in association with Agriolimax levis and Succinea. According 
to the observations of Mr. F. Rhodes, it is found chiefly amongst aquatic 
grasses, growing along the water-courses, being particularly partial to 
Glyceria aquiticau, and where this grass is common, the shell frequently 
abounds. 
It is said to be common, and even sometimes in profusion, in pine-beds 
and damp hothouses, where it is very destructive, but it is not improbable 
that in many cases the shells thus named are really H. alliaria. 
Though crepuscular or nocturnal in habit, they will emerge from their 
hiding-places during or after rain, and crawl about during the day over 
the wet mud and the leaves and stems of the rushes, sedges, iris, and 
other aquatic plants. 
It would appear to be quite amphibious, and can endure complete 
submersion for a lengthened period; Wattebled stating that it is able to 
endure without inconvenience several weeks immersion, and that it often 
passes the winter in ground covered with water. During the short period 
it hibernates, and when at rest it forms a thin, somewhat iridescent 
epiphragm. 
Mr. W. E. Collinge states that about Oxford it is generally found on 
the roots of grass in moist places at five to six inches beneath the surface ; 
and other observers have noted it crawling amongst the roots of aquatic 
plants, quite submerged, and sometimes to a depth of six or eight inches. 
Mr. Latchford subjected specimens in the summer season to forty-eight 
hours’ immersion in an inverted test tube, containing no free air; he 
found the animals apparently lifeless when taken out, though they 
quickly recovered. 
Z. nitidus is a favourite food of the Water-Rail, and Mr. Yarrell records 
that the stomach of that bird has been found quite filled with the young 
shells of this species. Dumont and Mortillet have remarked upon the 
partiality of this species for excrementitious and decaying animal matters, 
having observed it feeding upon the feces of Zémax, and within the shells 
of the larger Helices, devouring their decaying remains. It is also 
particularly fond of bones, feeding upon the gelatinous matter they con- 
tain, especially when this is softened by moisture or rain. As a bait, they 
found that bones spread among the 'l'yphz and Carices on the banks of 
the river were very efficacious traps, as quantities of specimens could be 
collected by examining the bait before sunrise. 
In captivity, according to Dr. Gain, this species appears to feed chiefly 
upon moist dead leaves of oak, chestnut, and lime, but will also devour 
the fresh green leaves of lettuce, cabbage, scarlet-runner beans and onions, 
in addition to the roots of carrot and turnip and cooked potatoes. 
Geological Distribution.—'l'his species has not hitherto been found 
below the Pleistocene strata in the British Isles nor abroad. 
PLEISTOCENE.—In South Wilts., it is quoted by Mr. Kennard from 
fluviatile deposits at Fisherton, near Salisbury. 
