588 THE ESCULENT SNAIL. 



them, however, they were fed with bran and sodden 

 lees of wine*. 



They are even yet much admired in some parts of 

 the Continent, and not always used from economi- 

 cal motives ; for at Vienna, but a few years ago, seven 

 of them were charged the same at an inn as a plate 

 of veal or beef. The usual modes of preparing 

 them for the table are either boiling, frying them in 

 butter, or sometimes stuffing them with farce meat : 

 but, in what manner soever they are dressed, their 

 sliminess always in a great measure remains. The 

 greatest quantities and the finest Snails are brought 

 from Suabia. Dr. Browne, who travelled to Vi- 

 enna above a century ago, remarks that, since the 

 markets were so well supplied with other provi- 

 sions, " he was surprised to meet with some odd 

 " dishes at their tables, as Guinea-pigs, and divers 

 " sorts of Snails and Tortoises." 



Dr. Townson was shewn at Erlau a snailery, 

 which the proprietor informed him was constructed 

 on an improved plan. In our island, he says, this 

 mijrht have had the denomination of a Patent 

 Snailery, or Philosophical Snail-sty. It consisted only 

 of a large hole, two or three feet deep, dug in the 

 around, having a wooden house as a cover. The 

 animals in this place were fed on the refuse of the 

 garden, which was thrown into themi- 



There seems some doubt as to the original intro- 

 duction of these snails into England : Pennant says 



* Da Costa, p. 67. + Townson's Travels, p. 15 and 22a. ] 



