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499 HELICIGONA ARBUSTORUM. 
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Food and Habits.—Helicigona arbustorum is a very hardy species, 
enduring greater cold, and extending further north as well as to a greater 
altitude in the mountains than Helix hortensis and other allied species, 
the var. bettw reaching a height of 9,000 feet in Northern Italy, so that 
in the more extreme districts the reproductive and growth seasons are 
crowded into the space of a few weeks in each year. 
It has the reputation of being an indolent yet sensitive species, but it 
carries its shell more erect and higher than Helix nemoralis and travels at 
a greater speed. It yields mucus rather plentifully, adhering strongly to 
smooth surfaces, and though preferring darkness and obscurity, flourishes 
well in confinement, young shells being easily grown to maturity. 
It is more nocturnal in habit than either Helix nemoralis or H. hortensis, 
and frequents moist and shady woods, as well as riverside meadows, 
particularly amongst willows and alders, where the soil is black and 
boggy, but is especially attached to hedgerows fringed with succulent 
herbage, nettle beds or by damp ditches overgrown with Ivy, Coltsfoot, 
and other plants, and even when freely crawling about usually keeps 
deep down amongst the herbage. 
his species is not so skioptic or so acutely susceptible to shade as are 
H. hortensis and H. pisana, which are more markedly sensitive thereto : 
it is, however, very muscular, and according to the experiments of Mr. 
Henry Crowther, can ascend a vertical glass plate at a speed of 7 mill. 
per minute when carrying a weight of 8+ grammes. 
It is very responsive to moisture, and is most frequently found on the 
shady sides of hedgerows and woods, and crawls freely about on the warm 
damp mornings after copious dews, or after a heavy fall of rain. It isa 
very local and gregarious species, and quite geophilous, and although found 
commonly on old lichen-covered walls and on shrubs, does not habitually 
ascend trees. 
In larch forests, where it is sometimes found, it is said, like Helix fwtens, 
to contract an unpleasant odour. 
H. arbustorum is believed to be purely herbivorous, and has been found 
feeding upon half-decayed vegetation, Nettles (Urtica), Thistles (Cnicus), 
Garlic (Adium), Coltstoot (Tussilago furfara), Cow Parsley (Heracleum), 
Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum), 
Meadow Sweet (Spirwa ulmaria), Butterbur (Petasites officinalis), ete. 
In confinement, Dr. Gain offered this species 190 different plants or 
foods, of which 51 were totally rejected even after a period of starvation ; 
62 kinds were nibbled more or less, while 75 were taken quite freely, but 
only strawberries and raw onions were eaten with avidity and zest. 
Amongst the foods freely taken were the Clovers (7?i/olium), while the 
T'refoils (Lotus), were rejected ; the Oak, the Hazel and other trees were 
eaten, but the Beech was rejected; many cultivated vegetables and several 
fruits were also devoured, but Apple was left untouched. 
Uses.— Helicigona urbustorum formerly occupied a place in the old 
Materia Medica, and it is still used as food in some parts, but is not held 
in very high esteem. 
Parasites and Enemies.—Though from its retiring and more noc- 
turnal habits, it is not so hable to destruction by the usual enemies of the 
mollusca, yet it is far from free from attack ; the thrushes and blackbirds 
are said to prefer this species when procurable, and its remains are some- 
times found plentifully around the ‘“‘thrush stones.” ‘The bank -vole and 
