86 



sion thither. Accordingly, one fine day, we might be 

 seen exploring most earnestly what might seem to many 

 persons the most uninteresting locality imaginable ; we, 

 however, do not find it so, for we are quite surprised at 

 the immense number of Helix virgata, ericetorum, 

 Cantiana, and caperata, which find their subsistence 

 upon the low stunted vegetation. In one part, too, we 

 come upon a numerous family of Pupa muscorum, and 

 at other places meet with Helix hispida, variety depilata, 

 and have some of our notions of specific difference 

 rather shaken, by being told that it is not a distinct 

 species. 



A piece of marshy ground in the neighbourhood is 

 next explored; there we find the first specimens of 

 Conovulus we have seen, which, though placed among 

 the Land Shells, or rather, perhaps, the amphibious 

 ones, seems to prefer situations where the water is 

 slightly brackish. Proceeding onwards in our search, 

 we come to the margin of a considerable stream, on 

 whose banks there is a quantity of rejectmenta, or 

 "wreck," as it is sometimes called, which has been 

 brought down by a flood ; this, when examined, proves 

 to be rich in the empty homes of several species of 

 mollusks, some of which we have not seen before. A 

 portion is taken home, to be examined at leisure. Thus 

 an excursion which might have seemed at first likely 

 to afford little that would interest one in the search 

 of Land shells merely, turns out to be more than 

 usually productive, and many leisure hours are em- 

 ployed, in cleaning, naming, and arranging those which 

 we have thus procured. 



Many are the instructive lessons we receive respecting 

 the habits and economy of the different tribes ; their 



