HELIX SNAIL. 109 



HELIX Pomatia* 

 EATABLE SNAIL. 



Specific character. Shell nearly globular, 

 turbinate, with five rounded whorls strongly 

 wrinkled longitudinally; aperture semi-lunar, 

 margin rather thickened, and turned a little out- 

 wards ; the columellar lip much reflected over 

 the umbilicus ; colour dingy yellowish brown, 

 commonly with three faint bands on the body 

 whorl, one of which continues round the next 

 whorl ; size about two or three inches in length, 

 and nearly equal in breadth. 



This is the largest species of land shell found 

 in England. It is not a native of this country, 

 but was originally introduced about the middle 

 of the sixteenth century, either as an article of 

 food, or for medicinal purposes. It is supposed 

 to have been first imported from Italy into Surrey, 

 by a Mr. Howard of Albury ; the animals in- 

 creased there prodigiously, and are now become 

 the most common species about Box Hill, Ash- 

 stead, and that neighbourhood. They were in- 

 troduced into Buckinghamshire as a medicine 

 for a lady who was in a consumption. They are 

 commonly used as food by the Roman Catholics 

 in many parts of Europe during Lent, and are 

 preserved and fattened for that purpose in large 

 reservoirs, the floors of which are covered with 

 herbs and flowers. These mollusca were among 



* Plate V. figure 1. 

 10 



