HELIX SNAIL. Ill 



travelling with its house on its back up perpen- 

 dicular ascents, or across horizontal surfaces. 

 Snails do not usually crawl out in search of 

 nourishment, except in rainy seasons, or in 

 damp and shady places ; in time of drought, they 

 take their station under stones and leaves, or in 

 the cavities of the trunks of trees. 



HELIX JantMna. 

 VIOLET SNAIL. 



Specific character. Shell univalve, with four 

 whorls obliquely situated, subglobular, thin, fra- 

 gile, diaphanous ; aperture subtriangular, the 

 angle formed by the upper and lower part of the 

 outer lip rounded ; columella straight ; colour 

 violet, palest towards the summit ; size an inch 

 long, the breadth rather exceeds the length. 



This shell, beautiful in its form and colour, is 

 still more interesting in its history, as displaying 

 another instance of the overruling care of the 

 Creator, and of his compensatory providence. 

 Unlike most fragile shells, its dwelling is the 

 stormy ocean ; but as the feeble reed bends to 

 the mighty wind, and rises unhurt when its power 

 is suspended, so this delicate shell offering no 

 resistance to the sea, rides upon its waves in 

 perfect safety. It is always found floating upon 

 the water, and probably never visits the bottom, 

 or willingly approaches any shore. It is thus 

 supported on the surface by means of a small 



