252 TAYLOR: ON HELIX ARBUSTORUM, 



remarks "frequents hedges, especially when fringed with coarse 

 succulent herbage, brambles, nettle beds and overgrown ditches." 

 A number of observers concur in remarking upon its predilection 

 for the vicinity of nettles, and Mr. Pidgeon notes its restriction 

 to the plant Angelica sylvestiis. Miss Hele informs me "they are 

 found chiefly in damp places, where Ivy grows, also among nettles 

 and coltsfoot; it thrives in captivity and it is thus easy to mature 

 young'"shells, whereas H. nemoralis almost always die, after a few 

 weeks captivity. Still it is a difficult species to introduce into a 

 fresh district, I have again and again taken them from Bath, and 

 liberated them in different hedges round Bristol, but always un- 

 successfully." 



Uses. 

 This species once occupied a place in the Materia medica 

 and is enumerated by Moquin-Tandon, as one of the edible species 

 though not much esteemed. 



Food. 



Miss Hele says : " I have kept them in captivity and find 

 they will eat cabbage and lettuce, but their favorite food is the 

 leaves of the coltsfoot ( Tusstlago faffara). They also feed on 

 nettles." 



Mr. J. C. Mansel-Pleydell states that he has met with very 

 fine and beautifully marked specimens at Lynch Farm, Encombe, 

 Dorset, feeding on Heracleu7n sphondylium. 



Mr. C. Ashford has observed it at Scarbro' upon Wild Celery 

 ( Apium graveolens), but cannot affirm that it feeds upon it. 



On the banks of the Cropredy Canal, Banbury, it is found 

 amongst an abundant growth of Angelica syhestris, its presence 

 being possibly determined by the plant, as it is confined to a very 

 small area (D. Pidgeon). 



Other observers note its predilection for the vicinity of 



J.C, iii., October, 188 



