114 HELICHXS:. 



best and most durable cements in nature, resisting 

 every degree of heat and moisture." 



Helix pomatia is nearly confined to the chalk dis- 

 trict of the south of England : it has been found as 

 far north as Wiltshire. Miller says it is rare in a 

 park at Bristol (where it might have been intro- 

 duced). According to Montagu, " it is not an 

 aboriginal species in this kingdom, but was first 

 introduced about the middle of the 16th century, 

 either as an article of food, or for medicinal purposes. 

 It is supposed they were first imported from Italy, 

 and turned out in Surrey by a Mr. Howard at 

 Albury. It is also said that Sir Kenelm Digby 

 [about 1630?] dispersed them about Gothurst, near 

 Newport Pagnel in Buckinghamshire; and Mr. 

 Morton informs us they were turned out by Lord 

 Station, at Kirby in Northamptonshire." Dr. Turton 

 observes that their having been used as food, as 

 mentioned by Lister (to which I may add the fact of 

 Merret having mentioned them without any note, as 

 found in Sussex, in his Pinax, published in 1667), 

 strongly militates against the idea of their being 

 of foreign origin. They have been said to be found 

 as far north as Devizes, in Wiltshire, and in Glouces- 

 tershire. I believe they are rather restrained by the 

 limits of the chalk basin than by the climate, as they 

 are abundant in the Botanic Garden, and the gardens 

 of the nobles in the south of Sweden, where the 

 climate is much more rigorous ; and I have no doubt 

 that, if they could pass the other strata, they could 

 live on the chalk in Yorkshire. " Some years ago 

 they were introduced into Scotland by Patrick 



