THE PERIWINKLE. 281 



disseminating 1 other species, which either attach themselves or 

 their eggs, to its shell.* Mamma was telling us the other 

 day, you remember, about the hybernation of the garden snail. f 

 It would appear that other testaceous inollusca have the power 

 of suspending- animation, and retaining life, for along period, 

 without air or nourishment. Mr Lyell relates that four speci- 

 mens of a large species of Bulimus were brought to England 

 from the straits of Magellan. They had been packed up in a 

 box, and enveloped in cotton, two for a space of thirteen, one 

 for seventeen, and a fourth for upwards of twenty months; but, 

 on being exposed to the warmth of a' fire, and provided with 

 tepid water and leaves, they revived, and are now living in 

 Mr. Loddidge's palm-house. 



HENRIETTA. 



This is the common periwinkle. 



ESTHER. 



It is. The Swedish peasants affirm that when these animals 

 (Turbo littorius} ascend the rocks, it is a sure sign of a storm, 

 as, prompted by instinct, they place themselves out of the 

 reach of the dashing of the waves; and when they again 

 descend upon the sand, it is a sign of a calm. 



HENRIETTA. 



And what is this large shell! 



ESTHER. 



It is the Strombus gigas, with which, I have understood, 

 that the streets of Christianstadt and of Santa Cruz are 

 paved. The beautiful shell cameos which are carved in Italy 

 are sculptured from the Strombus; and the Italians procure the 

 greater part of these shells from England, to which country 

 they are brought from the South Seas. 



HENRIETTA. 



What is this shell, which looks so much like a ram's horn, 

 only it is longer? 



* Lyell. t Chap. XII. 



24* 



