PEARCE : VARIETIES OF BANDED SNAILS. 1 33 



Next, to take the evidence afforded by some frequently 

 used sheep pastures, which he between Eastbourne and Beachy 

 Head, on the Sussex coast. These pastures, locally known as 

 Cow Gap, are in reality a turf-covered gap or break of about 

 three-c^uarters of a mile in length, in the otherwise continuous 

 line of chalk cliff. The gap has been, caused, in long time past, 

 by a landslip, in which the super-incumbent chalk strata have 

 slipt down over the worn upper greensand formation, which 

 forms the basement of the cliff at this point. This locality is a 

 distinctly favourite sheep-pasturing place, and since it lies open 

 to the sea facing the S.S.E., it is always warmer than other 

 neighbouring parts of the down, and the snails appear to 

 hybernate much later here than elsewhere. 



In January of the present year (1888) from eight squares of 

 three feet each, I took the varieties of Helix capet-ata in the 

 following proportions : — 



49 individuals of the var. oinata, to 

 100 ,, „ „ mottled form. 



The above, I may add, were associated with 372 typical 

 marked individuals of Helix virgata and a few Helix cricetorum. 



Visiting this locality again in September last, I collected in 

 the proportion of 



33 individuals of the var. oriiata, to 

 t8 ,, „ „ mottled form. 



Again, on the slope of the down just under the Coast- 

 guard Station, at Beachy Head, where there were evidences of 

 sheep pasturing, there were gathered by me : — 



26 individuals of the var. oniata, to 



27 ,, ,, ,, mottled form. 



Typical Helix virgata and Helix ericetoriati being taken at the 

 same time. 



I give now the figures relating to localities not used as 

 sheep pastures. On the 22nd and 27th of October, I visited 

 the sand hills on the Somersetshire coast near Burnham, already 

 known as the habitat of some singular varieties oi Helix virgata. 



