SHELLS. 327 



delicacy by the Nice-is, especially when it is found 

 closed by its operculum. Most of the land-snails have 

 lost this horny door ; they are unable to " sport the 

 oak," so to speak, and they shut themselves in only 

 when the time comes to hibernate. Eabbit and 

 " Cantareu " (the native name of this snail) are dishes 

 always ready in the rustic cabaret. 



In the " Eight Communes " of the Ventimiglia 

 district a law was passed imposing a fine of four lire 

 on persons caught stealing snails from their neigh- 

 bours' ground. If the thief was mean enough to 

 pilfer them by night, the fine was doubled (W. Scott). 



It is curious that the edible snail par excellence, 

 the large Helix pomatia, is less esteemed by the 

 Ligurians than the smaller species just mentioned. 

 The coast climate is too warm for the Pomatia ; it is 

 brought in from the hills. This is the snail which 

 the Romans ate, and which they are supposed to have 

 introduced into Britain. It does not extend farther 

 north in England than the midland counties. On the 

 chalk downs it is particularly abundant. 



The French and Italians are not the only people 

 who appreciate these snails. The Swiss of the eastern 

 cantons cultivate them in " snail-gardens " ; and it is 

 even whispered that the workmen of Didcot do not 



Fig. 109. PREHISTORIC NECKLACE FROM THE CAVES NEAR MEXTOXE. 



