The Common Snail. 37 



and tlio Frencli at tlie present clay tlieir cscargo- 

 tuircsj or Snailery, for tlie same purpose; some of 

 tlie Snails so kept attain an immense size^ as well 

 Hhej may if fed, as by tlie Eomans, on new wine 

 and meal. Many poor persons, especially those 

 "wlio are consumptive, miglit no doubt derive mucli 

 cbeap sustenance and benefit from using the larger 

 species of Uclicidcej wbicli might be collected from 

 hedges and gardens as food. "VMiy should they 

 not eat those as well as the marine mollusks, such, 

 as Oysters, Cockles, AYhelks, etc. ? 



Snails have an extraordinary power of re-jiro- 

 ducing any part which may be injured or cut off, 

 even to the extent of the whole head, as has been 

 observed to be the case ; the reparation of injury 

 done to the shell they can effect easily, as can all 

 testaceous mollusks. Eespecting the construction 

 of the shell, it may be observed that it is produced 

 in the thickness of the mantle, or cloak-like covering, 

 which envelops the body of the animal; the forma- 

 tion commences at the small end or spire, and 

 gradually goes on, whorl upon whorl, as the still 

 widening circles which gives the ridgy appearance 

 to most univalves are called. ColumeUa, or pillar, 

 is the name given to the spire on which the cones 

 are rolled; this is sometimes solid and sometimes 



