72 RAMBLES IN SEARCH OF SHELLS. 



think they were hybrid with H. aspersa. In the 

 garden H. pomatia is not nearly so destructive as 

 H. aspersa, preferring as a rule decaying vegetation ; 

 a yellow, half rotten, and then glutinous turnip leaf 

 is particularly a favourite morsel with them." 



In a copse upon the downs in West Sussex, not far 

 from Petersfield, one or two dead shells have been 

 found, from which it may be assumed that Helix 

 pomatia formerly existed in that neighbourhood, 

 but no living examples have been met with in 

 recent times. An enterprising friend, however, with 

 a taste for acclimatisation, turned out in that locality 

 fifty or sixty live specimens, which were procured at 

 Preston Candover, where thirty years ago they were 

 plentiful ; but the experiment to establish them in 

 the new locality failed, for not one of them was seen 

 afterwards ; and if, as we suspect, the hedgehog 

 found them toothsome, the fact speaks volumes for 

 the discriminating palate of our erinaceous friend, 

 who in this instance only emulated certain epicures 

 amongst our Gallic neighbours. With the latter a 

 dish of escargots is a recognized dainty, and in the 

 summer months may be obtained at the restaurants 

 of most of the principal towns in France as readily 



