430 helicidj:. 



siirroundcd by a dark circle ; length al)out twice the diameter of the 

 shell. 



Inhabits the sea-coast, and is common on the lower parts of Cape 

 Cod and Cape Ann. It is very abundant on Salt Island, near Glou- 

 cester. An European species, introduced liy commerce (?) to the 

 Northeastern portion of North America. It is found on islands 

 along the coast from Newfoundland to Cape Cod, and on the main- 

 land plentifully, in Gaspc, C. E. ; also along the St. Lawrence ; 

 Vermont ( ?), Connecticut (?), &c. It also inhabits Greenland. 



This species, so abundant in Europe, and so w^ell known in every 

 cabinet, has been undoubtedly imported to this continent, and has 

 not as yet made great advances into the interior. The specimens 

 first discovered by Dr. Binney were all of the plain, greenish-yellow 

 variety; and, though he could not fail to perceive their affinity to 

 the H. hortensis, he thought he discovered differences enough to 

 entitle them to a specific distinction, and therefore described them 

 under the name if. sub-g-Iobosa. But numerous specimens have 

 since been brought from the same vicinity, bearing all the various 

 zones of the European specimens. His remarks on the manner in 

 which the epiphragm, which closes up the orifice in winter, is formed, 

 are curious. Unlike other American species, they are not found l)ur- 

 rowing under stones and decayed leaves, but on the ground, and 

 crawling up the stems of plants. 



The best authorities noAV regard the H. hortensis 

 Fig 689. of authors as merely a variety of H. nemoralis, Lin., 



with a white instead of a dark lip. 



The Helix nemoralis of Europe, distinguished read- 

 ily from H. hortensis hy its black peristome, but by 

 many considered identical, does not appear to have 

 been introduced from Europe into the New England 

 States or British Provinces. In 1857 I imported 

 some hundred specimens from near Sheftield, Eng- 

 land, and freed them in my garden at Burlington, 

 New Jersey. They have thriven well and increased 

 with great rapidity, so that now (1869) the whole 

 town is full of them. They retain the habit of the species of 

 climbing hedges and trees, not remaining concealed under decay- 

 ing leaves, logs, &c., like the American Helices. Fig. 689 is drawn 

 from Burlington specimens. The experiment of introducing the 

 Helix nemoralis is interesting, as showing the adaptability of the 

 species to a new climate. Other species, among them H lapicida 



