WILD LIFE OF ORCHARD AND FIELD 



few jars of pickled snails, imported from Italy/' 

 figure as a curiosity rather than something need- 

 ed for the table; nevertheless, they are frequently 

 served at French and Italian restaurants in both 

 New York and London. The same author records 

 that the glassmen at Newcastle once a year have 

 a snail feast, collecting the animals in the fields 

 and hedges on the Sunday before. Thousands 

 are collected annually and sent to London as food 

 for cage-birds. 



Mr. W. G. Binney, for whom a syrup of snails 

 was prescribed by two regular physicians in Paris 

 in 1863, points out how old is the belief that land 

 mollusks possess valuable medicinal qualities. 

 In the Middle Ages the rudimentary shell of the 

 slug acquired a high rank among the numerous 

 bezoars and amulets which were supposed to pro- 

 tect the body from evil influences, and to impart 

 health and activity. The accounts of these vir- 

 tues, copied from one author to another, have per- 

 petuated the early superstitions until it is difficult 

 to overcome them by the light of the present day, 

 when, even in England, snails are supposed to 

 possess a useful power in cases of lung trouble. A 

 full relation of all the absurdities which gained 

 credence would form a curious and marvellous 



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