~~, 
332 HELIX HORTENSIS. 
which is protected by the epiphragm, being level with the soil. It appar- 
ently withstands the cold better than its ally, as it usually retires later 
in the season, and reappears earlier, probably not becoming so inert and 
torpid, as it 1s more frequently noticed crawling about and feeding on the 
milder days of winter. 
Helix hortensis is much more northern in geographical distribution and 
more montane in habit than A. nemorulis, and attains a higher altitude on 
the mountains, reaching to 6,000 feet near Andorra in the Pyrénées, and in 
Savoy, according to Dumont and Mortillet, ranging above the Vine zone, 
and reaching a height of nearly 5,000 feet; in these stations the epi- 
dermis is unusually thick and inclined to be deciduous, whereas when 
living on the lower ground it is thin, delicate, and persistent. In Derby- 
shire it has been observed by Mr. J. Wilfrid Jackson to reach a height 
of 1,800 feet in Cavedale. 
Economic Uses.—It is an edible species in many parts of France, 
Belgium, and other countries of Central Europe. In common with Helix 
pomatia and other species it was formerly included in the Materia Medica, 
and constituted the basis of certain remedial preparations of reputed 
efficacy, and like Helix nemoralis has been used for personal ornamentation 
when strung together in the form of necklaces, ete. 
Food.—Naturally it has been noted as feeding greedily upon nettles, 
and as being very fond of ragwort. Like AH. wspersa and other species, 
it will lick off the coating of whiting and paste applied as a shade to the 
roofs of greenhouses, leaving thereon distinct traces of its pasturing.? 
Occasionally it will eat the leaves of the nut tree (Corylus avellana), 
and has been noticed feeding upon wild garlic (Allium ursinum) for 
which its ally has little relish, a food which may possibly be the source 
of the alliaceous odour so frequently noted as characterizing this species, 
and which is especially perceptible at the moment the animal is immersed 
in boiling water. 
In Norway, it has been noted as frequenting orchards and feeding freely 
upon Angelica sylvestris and Stachys sylvatica. 
In captivity, Dr. Gain offered this species 192 different kinds of food, 
and of these 138 were absolutely refused, an eloquent testimony to the 
efficacy of the defences of plants against their molluscan enemies.” Only 
one plant, the lettuce, was eagerly devoured, but thirty-six other foods 
were more or less freely eaten, and though those preferred were chiefly 
cultivated vegetables, from which the ranker and more acrid qualities had 
become eliminated, yet the list also included Boletus edulis, an edible 
fungus, Seandix pecten-veneris or Shepherd’s Needle, and Ranunculus 
urvensis or Corn Crowfoot. 
Though there was a general agreement between Helix nemoralis and 
H. hortensis in the selected foods, yet there were several instances of foods 
rejected by one of the species, being fed upon comparatively freely by 
the other: Lepiota procera, Russula emetica and R. heterophylla, which 
are fairly freely eaten by H. hortensis, are quite rejected by H. nemoralis, 
and it is remarkable that the common nettle (Urticw dioica) so frequently 
observed to be the food and shelter for the species of this group of shells, 
was in captivity equally refused by both species, as was also the Ragwort 
‘Senecio jacoheea). 
1 Monog. iii., p. 247 and figs. 2 Monog. i., pp. 286-289. 
