342 Rev. Mr. Lowe's Descriptio7i of the 



about three-fifths of it; the neck and tail then extending each about one- 

 fifth beyond it. 



When in motion, it crawls with great activity. Contrary to any other 

 of its tribe that I am acquainted with, if disturbed or irritated it only crawls 

 the faster ; and if at rest and contracted, it directly puts itself in motion 

 on being touched or disturbed. 



It is found under stones in moist, shady, or grassy situations in the Island 

 of Madeira. It is tolerably plentiful in all the wooded ravines of the 

 interior. I have never met with it below the height of 2000 feet ; 

 and the highest point where I have noticed dead shells was at the height 

 of about 4,500 feet on the ascent of Pico Ruivo. In rainy weather it is 

 occasionally found crawling actively about on plants ; and I once found 

 it completely retracted within its shell and attached to a leaf of the 

 Clethra arborea. I observed it also in Porto Santo, in May, 1828, but 

 very small and rarely alive. 



From certain observations in February last, I was led to suspect this 

 animal to be carnivorous. Having shut up together several large and 

 small specimens in a box with damp moss, leaves of succulent plants 

 fSedum, not an acrid sort) and Fungi fTremellaJ, I was surprised at 

 finding in the morning nothing left of the smaller ones but the shells, com- 

 pletely cleaned out. I then put two larger ones, of nearly equal size, 

 together into a box. The next day, one was dead, and had the appear- 

 ance of having been gnawed in certain parts. The same evening, I 

 found the living one (which was quite fresh and lively) actually feeding 

 upon the body of the dead one ; gnawing at the place where it had, I sus- 

 pect, previously been at work. The skin and integuments of the dead 

 animal were quite eaten through, and the living one continued a conside- 

 rable time eating and making great progress at the place where it had 

 first began. The next day, more appeared to have been eaten in the 

 night ; the survivor in the day time remaining quiet, and concealed in 

 the usual contracted (but perfectly natural) state under the moss, leaves. 

 Fungi, &c. in the box ; none of which, I should observe, on this or any 

 other subsequent occasion, seemed to have been appropriated by the ani- 

 mal to the purposes of food. On the following day, the body of the 

 dead animal was so putrid, that I could scarcely ascertain whether more 

 had been eaten ; and after this I neglected to observe them. 



