166 



miles west of Toulon. No doubt it is generally distributed 

 through the South of France. 



Helix vermiculata was found in lower localities at the 

 foot of the mountains down to the sea shore. It is fond of 

 hybernating under heaps of stones over which moss and grass 

 have grown. This species has a very distinct winter diaphragm 

 of considerable strength. There is much variation in the 

 markings of the shells. Large basketsful of this mollusc are 

 to be seen during open weather for sale in the markets, for 

 it is commonly eaten by the inhabitants. I found the forms 

 concolor and subfasciata among others. 



Helix aspersa, so familiar to us in England, is the other 

 species offered for sale in the markets, while many shop 

 windows display tempting dishes full of cooked examples of 

 this and H. vermiculata. The H. aspersa I obtained are 

 considerably unlike those we find in this country. They are 

 more open at the mouth, different in texture, coloration 

 and pattern. I only got one other specimen beyond those 

 I exhibit, but as these are all much of the same kind, it is 

 probable that they are representative. These were turned out 

 of hybernal retreats far in the crevices of rocks on Mont 

 Faron. Among them is the variety ^m^<3:. Helix aperta, by 

 some authors considered a local form of H. aspersa, is 

 represented by a long series of this unvarying shell. As it 

 occurs more frequently than does H. aspersa in winter, and 

 does not, so far as I have seen, make any epiphragm, one 

 finds much difficulty in believing it to be only a variety 

 of our common Helix. This South European H. aperta 

 considerably puzzles one on first seeing it on the very dry 

 banks where it occurs, for it looks so much like a member 

 of the aquatic genus Limnea, that the first thought is where 

 can be the water from which it has crawled. 



High up on Mont Faron I found the very beautiful Helix 

 splendida by turning stones; it is locally distributed, being 

 frequent in some places, and not to be found in others near 

 by. It is a most variable species, and when the shell contains 

 the living animal is indeed, as its name signifies, splendid in 

 bright colour. Mr. Cockerell has noticed two of the forms 

 found by me as new. When searching under stones for 

 H. splendida we must beware of scorpions, which frequently 

 hybernate in company with the snails. Although half sleepy, 

 they are often quite active enough to resent an untimely 

 visit. 



On waste ground near Fort Malgue, some curious forms 

 of Helix virgata occur ; two of these have been named by 



