HELIX. 105 



nucopia Gmelin. Serpula helicina Solander. Cor- 

 nucopia helicina Shaw, Nat. Misc. xiv. 568. Cor- 

 nucopia monstrosa Chemn. 



The internal spicula or darts, which this species 

 ejects in the spring of the year, are about a quarter 

 of an inch long, slender, and tapering to a fine point, 

 exactly square, with four sharp angles, rounded and 

 hollow at the top like the socket of a joint. A mag- 

 nified figure may be seen in Lister's anatomical tables 

 at the end of his Conchology, t. 2, 3. f. 1, 2. 



The snail which inhabits this shell seems to be 

 more influenced by the weather than many of the 

 smaller sort ; for upon the first appearance of cold 

 they creep into crevices and under stones, clustering 

 together and clinging to each other, as if they were 

 capable of communicating warmth by association. 

 They are the pest of gardens, especially such as are 

 inclosed by hedges and old walls. Upon many of 

 them are found a series of thin circular layers placed 

 horizontally ; these are the laminar foliations of the 

 winter epiphragm left by another of the species which 

 had been attached to it. 



This snail is collected and sold in Covent Garden 

 and other markets, as a cure for diseases of the chest, 

 boiled in milk ; and quantities of them are collected 

 and packed in old casks, and sent to the United 

 States of America as delicacies. In this manner 

 they travel very well, as they fix themselves on one 

 another round the circumference of the cask, leaving 

 a vacant space in the centre. 



The glassmen at Newcastle once a year have a 

 snail feast ; they generally collect the snails them- 



