108 UNIVALVES. 



who traversed it, as having a herbage underneath 

 the trees and shrubs, completely covered with 

 snails of a prodigious size, and of the best sort ; 

 in that country these animals are esteemed a 

 delicacy. 



Snails furnish a valuable article of food on the 

 shores of the Mediterranean, where they are 

 boiled in their shells, and served up with rice. 

 They possess nearly the same nutritious qualities 

 as oysters, and the use of them has often proved 

 efficacious in consumptive disorders. 



The Helices which live on land become torpid 

 on the approach of winter, and generally cover 

 the mouth of their shell with an operculum. 

 Like that of other terrestrial mollusca, this cover- 

 ing is not attached to the animal, but to the shell, 

 and is deciduous, acting only as a preservative 

 against the cold of winter. 



The history of this genus is very interesting 

 and instructive, affording a striking instance of 

 the superintending providence of the Almighty, 

 and his care for the peculiar wants of His crea- 

 tures ; though all things are at his command, 

 He is not prodigal of means ; He gives what is 

 required, and holds back what is needless. Upon 

 the animals who inhabit rocky shores or the 

 bottom of the ocean, He has bestowed a thick 

 substantial covering, but to snails, the greater 

 number of which live on the land, or in stagnant 

 pools, or peaceful streams, He has given a thin 

 and remarkably light shell, which, while it affords 



