UNIVALVES HELIX. 93 



Lapicida, Marginata, Cicatricosa, and Scaraba?iis ; the 

 last of which is said to be found in the Friendly Isles, and 

 on the mountains of Asia. These shells were formerly sup- 

 posed to have fallen in showers from the clouds. 



Tlie more compressed or flattened species of this genus 

 are those commonly known by the name of Antique 

 Lamps, in consequence of their great resemblance to that 

 utensil. There are many rare and beautiful shells in this 

 division; among those best known are the Helix Lucer- 

 na, Lampas, Carocolla, &c. &c. &c. The rarest speci- 

 mens, however, are the Helix Ringens or Grinner, the 

 Helix Gualteriana or Gualtieri's Snail (so called after the 

 conchologist of that name), and the Helix Tricarinata or 

 Triple-keeled Snail. There are other species which have 

 their whorls more produced, and altogether are much 

 more globose or inflated in their forms; such are the 

 Helix Ampullacea, Helix Glauca (a very rare shell) and 

 Helix Pomatia; the latter snail is an inhabitant of the 

 woods of Europe, and was introduced into England by 

 Sir Kenelm Digby, for medical purposes. The animal is 

 used in many parts of Europe as an article of food dur- 

 ing Lent ; and it was a favorite dish with the Romans. 

 It is oviparous, very tenacious of life, and towards winter^ 

 covers its aperture with a calcareous lid. 



The animal of the Helix Ampullacea is also eaten, it 

 grows to an immense size. It deposits its eggs in clus- 

 ters, on the bark of trees, or rushes, &c. they have some- 

 times a pink tinge, but are generally dull white. 



The innumerable varieties of the Helix Citrina, or Ci- 

 tron Land Snail, are uncommonly beautiful. 



There are some of the Helices which closely resemble 

 shells classed with the Voluti3e;the two principal species 

 are the Helix Ovalis, and Helix Oblonga; they are land 



