HELIX. 63 



specimens that are intermediate in appearance. In 

 course of time he will come to the conclusion that no 

 distinct line can be drawn between any of them a 

 startling conclusion to anyone acquainted with only 

 one or 'two distinct types say the dark chocolate and 

 the pure yellow. 



Thrushes devour them with great relish, breaking 

 the shells on a flat stone. I have observed fresh shells, 

 empty and broken, apparently gnawed by rabbits' 

 teeth, at the entrance to their burrows in the sand- 

 hills ; but whether " Brer Rabbit " is actually to blame 

 for this I have been unable to discover. 



In Alsace I have observed these shells high up in 

 trees, a habit which I have not noticed in England. 



There seems some doubt if the different varieties 

 interbreed. The collector should always examine the 

 mouths of all pairing couples he comes across, and 

 make notes of his observations. 



Var. I. hortensis. Smaller, more globular, white 

 lipped. 



Var. II. hybrida. Same size as Var. I., mouth pink. 



Var. III. major. Larger, thinner, more depressed. 



Var. IV. minor. Dwarfed. 



6. H. ARBUSTORUM (living in cc 

 Globose, solid, glossy, brown and yellow, forming a sort 



