HELIX. 63 
specimens that are intermediate in appearance. In 
course of time he will come to the conclusion that no 
distinct line can be drawn between any of them—a 
startling conclusion to anyone acquainted with only 
one or two distinct types—say the dark chocolate and 
the pure yellow. 
Thrushes devour them with great relish, breaking 
the shells on a flat stone. I have observed fresh shells, 
empty and broken, apparently gnawed by rabbits’ 
teeth, at the entrance to their burrows in the sand- 
hills ; but whether “ Brer Rabbit” is actually to blame 
for this I have been unable to discover. 
In Alsace I have observed these shells high up in 
trees, a habit which I have not noticed in England. 
There seems some doubt if the different varieties 
interbreed. The collector should always examine the 
mouths of all pairing couples he comes across, and 
make notes of his observations. 
Var. I. hortensis. Smaller, more globular, white 
lipped. 
Var. II. hybrida. Same size as Var. I., mouth pink. 
Var. III. major. Larger, thinner, more depressed. 
Var. LV. minor. Dwarfed. 
6. H. arpustorum (living in copses). 
Globose, solid, glossy, brown and yellow, forming a sort 
