HELIX. 221 



rounded in front, obtusely pointed behind; sides marked 

 with minute and numerous black specks, which are arranged 

 in squares and form rather large spots. 



SHELL subconical, more compressed below than above, 

 rather solid but semitransparent, slightly glossy, dark-brown 

 or horncolour, marked transversely with close-set curved striae, 

 which are equally strong on both sides : periphery rounded, 

 but obtusely keeled in young specimens : epidermis rather 

 thin : whorls 5, cylindrical, compressed on the upper part and 

 towards the periphery, rather convex underneath, first whorl 

 slightly granulated : spire somewhat raised ; summit rather 

 glossy and transparent : suture remarkably deep : mouth 

 horseshoe-shaped, but compressed above, destitute of an 

 internal rib : outer lip thin, very slightly reflected in adult 

 specimens, considerably inflected above and below : umbilicus 

 large, open, and deep, exposing part of the whorls, as well 

 as all the interior of the spire. L. OO75. B. 0'115. 



Var. viridescenti-alba. Shell greenish- white. 



HABITAT : On rocks, walls, and ruins of castles, as well 

 as under stones on hill-sides, throughout the greater 

 part of this countiy. Fleming noticed it in his * British 

 Animals ' as a Scotch species, and Leach states that he 

 had observed it near the summit of mountains in Arran, 

 N. B. ; its English range extends from Westmoreland 

 to South Devon. It is also not uncommon in South 

 Wales and Ireland. The variety has been found by 

 Mr. Norman at Clevedon in Somersetshire, and by Mr. 

 Webster at Clifton, near Bristol. The spire is often 

 more or less raised, and not unfrequently distorted. This 

 species does not appear to be a pliocene fossil or to in- 

 habit the North of Europe ; but Dr. Zittel has taken it 

 near Baden. It is diffused throughout Central and 

 Southern Europe, as far as Algeria, Sicily, and Greece, 

 and even (according to Lowe) ranges to Madeira. 



Montagu observed, with respect to this species, that 

 it always affects lofty and exposed situations, braving 

 equally the scorching beams of the sun in summer and 



