INTRODUCTION. 5 



tioii is suspected to be comparatively recent, are S. ovale, 

 D. polymorpha, H. Pisana, and H. obvoluta. 



It was thought that H '. pomatia was introduced by the 

 Romans as an article of food, but this notion is now dis- 

 carded. 



Ways and Means of Collecting. 



I have often been asked by would-be collectors such 

 questions as "How do you set about collecting?" 

 " What implements are necessary ? " and most frequently, 

 perhaps, " Where do you look for shells ? I know the 

 ' garden snail,' and a yellow one with bands, but I never 

 see all these you have in your cabinet." 



To those desirous of this and similar information the 

 following hints may prove serviceable : 



When going out for a ramble after shells very few pre- 

 parations are necessary. For pond work a scoop is essen- 

 tial, and better than a net. The most handy scoop is one 

 of very fine zinc gauze, with a sharp zinc rim, to which is 

 attached an open ferrule, into which a walking-stick may 

 be inserted. A store of tin boxes of various sizes is re- 

 quired, and in selecting these it should be remembered that 

 those which open with a spring are more handy than those 

 the lids of which have to be removed every time a shell is 

 dropped in. Small nib-boxes and match-boxes are very 

 good for small shells, and should be padded with a little 

 weed or moss to prevent the more delicate species being 

 broken by being rattled together in the pocket. Tin boxes 



