20 THE COMMON SXAIL. 



tlieir shells, and sticking themselves fast to the sides of their 

 refuge, or to each other, they sleep away, careless of frosts 

 and tempests. 



A moist and rather warm state of the atmosphere seems 

 most congenial to the land Snails, some species of which are 

 found in all countries, except those wliere the most intense 

 cold prevails. Generally speaking, they do not like dry heat, 

 and to escape from it will get under stones, and into other 

 cool places, from wlience a shower brings them forth in such 

 numbers, the smaller species especially, as to lead to the 

 popular belief that it sometimes rains Snails. 



These Gastcropods, although extremely injurious to vegeta- 

 tion, must not be regarded as worse than useless, as they 

 commonly are; besides furnishing food for several wild, as 

 well as domesticated, birds, they are no doubt a nourishing 

 article of diet for man. The llomans had their cochlearia, 

 where Snails were regularly fed and fattened for the tabk'; 

 and the French at the present day their escargofoires, or Snail- 

 ery, for the same purpose; some of the Snails so kept, attain 

 an immense size, as well tliey may if fed, as by the Komans, 

 on new wine and meal. Many poor persons, especially those 

 who are consumptive, might no doubt derive much cheap 

 sustenance and benefit from using the larger species of Helicidce, 

 which might be collected from hedges and gardens as food. 

 Why should they not cat those as well as the marine mol- 

 lusks, such as Oysters, Cockles, Whelks, etc. 



Snails have an extraordinary' power of re-producing any 

 part Avhich may be injured or cut oif, 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 moUusks. Respecting the construction of 

 the shell it may be observed that it is produced in the tliick- 

 ness of the mantle, or cloak-like covering which envelopes 

 the body of the animal; the formation commences at the 

 small end or spire, and gradually goes on, whorl upon whorl, 

 as the still widening circles which give the ridgy appearance 

 to most univalves, are called. Columella, ov pillar, is the name 

 given to the spire on which the cones are rolled; this is 

 sometimes solid, and sometimes hollow; when the latter, the 

 open end is called the Umbilicus, meaning the navel or centre. 



