HELIX. in 



western parts of Scotland, and in Ireland generally. 

 This beautiful little mollusc lives among, and feeds 

 upon, fallen and decaying leaves, especially those of 

 the holly and the fronds of some of the ferns. 



Dr. F. Buchanan White has " found it in the wooded 

 highland glens at an elevation of 1200 feet," and has 

 " met with it as far north as Ross-shire." He adds, 

 " though I carefully searched I have never been able 

 to find lamellata or any other shell among holly 

 leaves." ' Scottish Naturalist,' vol. ii. It may be that 

 the localities examined by him furnished a more 

 tempting repast, but in the south-west of Scotland I 

 always search among fallen holly leaves for H. lamel- 

 lata, and find it, as well as H. aculeata and Z.fitlvus, 

 in considerable abundance upon them. When crawl- 

 ing its movement is unusually rapid, and it carries its 

 shell in an upright position, swaying it from side to 

 side as it advances, reminding one of the waddling of 

 a duck. It is very timid, and seems to be impatient 

 of the light. Being desirous of examining some 

 captive specimens, I found that the readiest way of 

 inducing them to show themselves was to allow a 

 gleam of sunshine to fall upon their shell, from which, 

 after a few moments, they would emerge, and crawl 

 away in quest of shade. The spire of the shell, es- 

 pecially at the apex, is frequently denuded of its 

 epidermis. 



2. H. ACULEA'TA,* MULLER. PL. VII. 



Body varying in colour from slaty to greenish grey or pale 

 brown ; tentacles long, thick, upper pair finely speckled with 

 black ; foot narrow, tapering to a point behind. 



Prickly. 



