HELIX SNAIL. 109 



ample protection to its inmate, offers no impedi- 

 ment to its locomotive propensities. Can we see 

 this beautiful adaptation to circumstances this 

 provision for the wants, and consideration for the 

 comforts of His creatures, and not give the praise 

 and adoration to Him, who riding upon the wings 

 of the winds, regards not only the sons of men, 

 but the meanest reptile that crawls upon the 

 earth ! 



HELIX Pomatia* 



EATABLE SNAIL. 



Specific Character. Shell nearly globular, 

 turbinate, with five rounded whorls strongly 

 wrinkled longitudinally ; aperture semi-lunar, 

 margin rather thickened, and turned a little out- 

 wards ; the columellar lip much reflected over the 

 umbilicus; colour dingy yellowish brown, com- 

 monly with three faint bands on the body whorl ; 

 one of which continues round the next whorl ; 

 size about two or three inches in length, and 

 nearly equal in breadth. 



This is the largest species of land shell found 

 in England. It is not a native of this country, 

 but was originally introduced about the middle of 

 the sixteenth century, either as an article of food, 

 or for medicinal purposes. It is supposed that it 

 was first imported from Italy into Surrey, by a 

 Mr. Howard of Albury ; the animals increased 

 there prodigiously, and are now become the most 

 * Plate V. figure 1. 



