HELIX. 221 



rounded in front, obtusely pointed behind ; sides marked with 

 minute and numerous black specks, which are arranged in 

 squares and form rather large spots. 



Shell subcorneal, more compressed below than above, rather 

 soHd but semitransparent, slightly glossy, dark-brown or horn- 

 colour, marked transversely with close-set curved strige, which 

 are equally strong on both sides : periphery rounded, but ob- 

 tusely keeled in young specimens : epidermis rather thin : 

 whorls 5, cylindrical, compressed on the upper part and towards 

 the periphery, rather convex underneath, first whorl slightly 

 granulated: S2)lre somewhat raised; summit rather glossy 

 and transparent : suture remarkably deep : mouth horseshoe- 

 shaped, but compressed above, destitute of an internal rib : 

 outer Up thin, very slightly reflected in adult specimens, con- 

 siderably inflected above and below : umhilicus large, open, and 

 dee}), exposing part of the whorls, as well as all the interior of 

 the spire. L. 0-075. B. 0-115, 



Yar. viridescenti-alba. Shell greenish- white. 



Habitat : On rocks, walls, and ruins of castles, as well 

 as under stones on liill-sides, throughout the greater 

 part of this country. Fleming noticed it in liis ' British 

 Animals' as a Scotch species, and Leach states that he 

 had observed it near the summit of mountains in Arran, 

 N. B. ; its EngHsh range extends from Westmoreland 

 to South Devon. It is also not uncommon in South 

 Wales and Ireland. The variety has been found by 

 Mr. Norman at Clevedon in Somersetshire, and by Mr. 

 Webster at Clifton, near Bristol. The spire is often 

 more or less raised, and not unfrequently distorted. This 

 species does not appear to be a pliocene fossil or to in- 

 habit the North of Europe ; but Dr. Zittel has taken it 

 near Baden. It is dififused throughout Central and 

 Southern Europe, as far as Algeria, Sicily, and Greece, 

 and even (according to Lowe) ranges to Madeira. 



Montagu observed, with respect to this species, that 

 it always affects lofty and exposed situations, braving 

 equally the scorching beams of the sun in summer and 



