70 EAMBLES IN SEAECH OF SHELLS. 



tite, and become gregarious. Each snail then, 

 with its large and muscular foot, scoops out a hole 

 in the ground, just large enough to contain its shell. 

 This it roofs in, and lines with earth and dead 

 leaves, and after making with its slime a kind of 

 mortar, it uses it to smooth over the inside of this 

 winter domicile. It then closes the mouth of the 

 shell with the lid already described, and withdraws 

 as far as possible into the interior of its shell, cover- 

 ing as it retires the empty spaces with several layers 

 in succession of a fine membrane or film, in order 

 more completely to exclude the air. In this snug 

 receptacle it remains in a torpid state until the 

 return of spring, all animal functions being in the 

 meantime suspended. It then loosens and casts 

 aside its winter bonds, and resumes its former 

 life. 



In May these snails propagate, and in June lay 

 their eggs, producing generally but a single brood in 

 the year. The eggs are about the size of a small 

 pea, and in colour and consistency somewhat re- 

 semble the berries of the mistletoe. They are 

 deposited in a sort of nest made in the loose earth, 

 which protects them from wet and too much heat. 



